BBC SPORT | Cricket | Tendulkar passes milestone

Of all the batsmen the late Sir Donald Bradman observed in action, there was only one he compared to himself - Sachin Tendulkar.

So it seems fitting Tendulkar has surpassed the legend's landmark of Test centuries.

The Little Master overtook Bradman's score at Headingley to record 30 Test centuries in 99 matches - and he is now only four tons off the overall record, held by Indian Sunil Gavaskar.

Most Test hundreds

SM Gavaskar (Ind) 34

SR Tendulakr (Ind) 30

D Bradman (Aus) 29

AR Border (Aus) 27

SR Waugh (Aus) 27

At the beginning of the Test series against England, Tendulkar was way off his normal imperious form.

He was out for lowly scores of 16 and 12 in the first Test at Lord's - and the critics claimed the England bowlers had the measure of him.

But at Trent Bridge, he came back to form with an excellent 92 before being bowled by part-time bowler Michael Vaughan.

Rank Tendulkar among cricket's greats

In a sport that cherishes statistics, the number of centuries a batsman scores is one way to define his worth in relation to those who have gone before him.

Now Tendulkar has surpassed Bradman, it is yet another proud landmark in the glittering career of a man who has constantly had to shoulder comparisons with the Australian.

Tendulkar has played 99 Tests

Tendulkar first played against England at Lord's in 1990, and in the ensuing contests has been a perpetual thorn in their side.

India's poor record away from home is inevitably reflected at an individual level, but not in Tendulkar's case and certainly not in England.

Able to adapt

An anonymous first outing on these shores aside, Tendulkar has been a sure thing to thrill English crowds with his masterful batting.

Six hundreds and an average of more than 70 from 15 matches is testament to that.

Photo gallery: Tendulkar's centuries

And short of giving Chris Lewis, who dismissed Tendulkar an impressive four times, a recall, there seems little England can do to stand in his way.

Nasser Hussian has tried to frustrate Tendulkar - and it worked in the first Test this summer.

But India's premier batsman soon found an answer and has been a joy to watch.

No wonder Bradman rated him so highly.


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