Australia in India 2008

[tsb]

Follow-on looming large..

[Joe King]

Get in!

[Parm]

hmmm not sure about us not enforcing the follow on, but the boys have set off like a rocket.

[Parm]

Hidden text Parm...

my bad, bloody white text...grrr

[Parm]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...lkar_ap416.jpg

went a bit mental in the office when he got the record, what more can this guy do to prove to some on here he is the greatest batsman of the modern era.

[Red Chilli]

went a bit mental in the office when he got the record, what more can this guy do to prove to some on here he is the greatest batsman of the modern era.

Break the individual record Test score or record first class score.

Both held by Lara, who held Sachin's record until Sachin broke it.

[tsb]

Break the individual record Test score or record first class score.

Both held by Lara, who held Sachin's record until Sachin broke it.

Both those high scores came in drawn games. Hardly matchwinning knocks.

[Red Chilli]

Both those high scores came in drawn games. Hardly matchwinning knocks.

Doesn't really matter, we're not talking about the greatest team player of the modern era, we're talking the greatest batsman. Inidividual achievement count more in that respect, especially as the bulk of Lara's career corresponded with one of the weakest WI bowling attacks of the modern era by a distance.

Draws can happen for a variety of reasons including rain and light.

[tsb]

Doesn't really matter, we're not talking about the greatest team player of the modern era, we're talking the greatest batsman. Inidividual achievement count more in that respect, especially as the bulk of Lara's career corresponded with one of the weakest WI bowling attacks of the modern era by a distance.

Draws can happen for a variety of reasons including rain and light.

The draw against England happened for one reason and one reason only, Lara's obsession with himself and reclaiming his record. His achievement was awesome (even better that he took it off Hayden) and I enjoyed watching it but cricket matches are there to be won and he passed up the chance.

Our criteria for the greatest batsman of the modern era are clearly different - let's agree to disagree.

Warne got it spot on when asked to rank the best batsman he had bowled to...

"Sachin Tendulkar is in my time the best player without doubt — daylight second, Brian Lara third".

[Red Chilli]

The draw against England happened for one reason and one reason only, Lara's obsession with himself and reclaiming his record. His achievement was awesome (even better that he took it off Hayden) and I enjoyed watching it but cricket matches are there to be won and he passed up the chance.

Our criteria for the greatest batsman of the modern era are clearly different - let's agree to disagree.

Warne got it spot on when asked to rank the best batsman he had bowled to...

"Sachin Tendulkar is in my time the best player without doubt — daylight second, Brian Lara third".

I disagree that playing a match winning innings makes you a great batsman. Lara broke all the records, Sachin has yet to achieve that and they played in the same era

Has Sachin ever had a triple century?

[Red_Polo]

I disagree that playing a match winning innings makes you a great batsman. Lara broke all the records, Sachin has yet to achieve that and they played in the same era

Has Sachin ever had a triple century?

Earlier on you were saying it was all about test averages...

[Red Chilli]

Earlier on you were saying it was all about test averages...

That's for comparing "greatest EVER". The only fair way is averages as so much more cricket is played these days.

For comparing greatest of the modern era there are many factors, including test averages. But I think holding all 3 of those records at once (highest number of test runs, highest individual test score and highest individual first class score) gives Lara the edge.

If I had to hang my hat on the best comparrison it would be averages though.

Having just checked, there's feck all between Lara and Tendulkar in Test averages, less than 2 runs in it. Considering that Sachin played for a much better team than Lara the difference is negligible.

[Harv]

The draw against England happened for one reason and one reason only, Lara's obsession with himself and reclaiming his record. His achievement was awesome (even better that he took it off Hayden) and I enjoyed watching it but cricket matches are there to be won and he passed up the chance.

Our criteria for the greatest batsman of the modern era are clearly different - let's agree to disagree.

Warne got it spot on when asked to rank the best batsman he had bowled to...

"Sachin Tendulkar is in my time the best player without doubt — daylight second, Brian Lara third".

What's Hayden done to be hated by so many of you? He's a top bloke FFS, one of the only nice guys in our side actually

I hope Sachin chokes on a naan made by Harbahjan biiiiiite

[Harv]

Gonna be another draw here i reckon.

Unless India have some balls and declare soon with a reachable target for us to chase in a day and a half

[tsb]

What's Hayden done to be hated by so many of you? He's a top bloke FFS, one of the only nice guys in our side actually

I hope Sachin chokes on a naan made by Harbahjan biiiiiite

Nothing personal at all, I quite like the guy. Anyone who could thrive like he did in India in 2001 is a class player.

The reason for that line was that Lara scored his 400 against England and Hayden scored it against a poor Zimbabwe. I know you can only play against what's put out there in front of you but it's nice to see a record made against a good team (which I'm sure you'll dispute!)