Donald George Bradman is the greatest batsman

After Sachin Tendulkar broke Brian Lara’s record of 11,953 Test runs some have said he is the greatest batsman.  They put him higher than Donald Bradman and Brian Lara.  I suppose it has to do with nationality than facts.

 Donald Bradman scored 6,996 runs in 80 Innings, remained not out 10 times, of 52 Tests with an average of 99.94.  No batsman is closer to him in average.  Donald Bradman hit 29 centuries with two of them being triple centuries.  Besides these two triple centuries he hit 10 double centuries with one of them being 299 not out. 

Brian Lara took 21 Tests less than Sachin Tendulkar to score 11,953 Test runs.  He broke the record of highest runs in a Test Innings twice.  He broke the record of 365 not out of Garfield Sobers and hit 375.  Matthew Hayden broke Brian Lara’s record and scored 380. Brian Lara broke that record and scored 400 not out.

 Sachin Tendulkar has not hit any triple century.  Virender Sehwag has hit two triple centuries.

 Sachin Tendulkar played in World Cups from 1992 to 2007.  India did not win any of them.  In 1996 Sachin Tendulkar played well and it was not his fault.  In other World Cups his performance was average. 

If people say popularity of a batsman has to be criterion of greatness than there were many batsmen who were popular but did not do as well as Sachin Tendulkar.  Gundappa Vishwanath can be said to be greater than Sachin Tendulkar. 

Batsmen are for scoring runs.  They have to be judged by the runs they score. Donald George Bradman is the greatest batsman.