Unfortunately a requirement of the gentlemens game of Cricket is that the players must not be on steroids, perhaps why the sport has never taken off in the US of A.
Tendulkar has been my favourite player of the modern game (i.e. since I was born). He will hold a very solid number 2 spot in my list of all time greatest cricketers.
You need not ask an Australian who number 1 is.
But back to Tendulker though- fantastic: and he can retire when he's good and ready. Teddy Sherringham plaid in the Premiership until he was 40!
Ben, you need not ask any real Cricket fan who the number one is and will always be. Thats a given. Perhaps there just might be a rethink when Tendulkar and Ponting hang their boots. Just might!!!
And no, it can never be Warnie although I have immense respect for his on-field exploits. Look at what he could still do after his retirement - Rajasthan Royals.
I was fortunate to watch Tandulkars innings, he was absolutely amazing, by the time he struck the 200th run he looked physically drained but stayed mentally very strong. A fantastic player, sportsman and human being.
To be fair what has Ricky Ponting have to do with anything? We are talking about cricketing greats, sure he's an ok batsman, but as a captain he's a w a n k e r.
Warne on the other hand is a cricket legend, unfortunately he's an even greater w a n k e r than Ponting.
So yeah I agree, Tendulkar is without a doubt the greatest cricketer alive at the moment both on and off the pitch.
* Highest run-getter in ODIs, with 17,598 runs from 442 matches. Jayasuriya (13,428) and Ponting (12,731) follow
* Most centuries in ODIs (46), followed by Ricky Ponting (29) and Sanath Jayasuriya (28)
* Since Feb 24, 2009 has scored 1,158 runs in 20 ODIs, with 4 tons, averaging 72.37. In the preceding 12 months, had scored 352 runs from 9 ODIs at an average of 44
* His double century is the first in 39 years of ODIs, including 60-overs-a-side matches
* Highest scorer in Tests, with 13,447 runs from 166 matches. Next best Lara (retired with 11,953) and Ponting (playing with 11,859)
* Most Test centuries (47), well ahead of Ponting (39) and Kallis (34) among active players, and retd Lara and Gavaskar (34 each)
* In 2010, has already scored 477 runs averaging 95.40. Only Hashim Amla (674) has scored more Test runs this year
* In his last 10 Tests, has scored 1,018 runs at an average of 78.3 and is the only one with 6 tons in the last 12 months. In the previous 10 Tests, he had 647 runs and averaged just 38.08
Raaaab, I agree wih everything you've written in this thread but I would point out that Australia's home season record this summer has been ... well, quite good.
Take a bow. I never expected you to know about Farokh Engineer. I wanted to mention him bit thought he would be much before your time. He played for Lancashire all life and was very well liked. He has been one of my favorites too. Dhoni was good yesterday but his keeping still has to improve a lot to be anywhere near Engineer's. Engineer was a brilliant keeper. And no mug with the bat either. I remember watching him as a school going kid in 1969, he opened for India in Mumbai with Dilip Sardesai against Australia and almost scored a century before lunch.
I think one of the most prized possessions of all times for Lancashire must be Wasim Akram.
Still, I am glad to see his resurgence. Some of my favorite players will be retiring almost at the same time, esp Ponting and Tendulkar. Tendulkar, though, really needs to win the world cup. Hope India doesn't choke when the time comes.
Engineer was a class act like you say an excellent keeper and a very exciting batsman, used to go to the nets to watch Lancs train and slipped off school for the big games, I could walk to Old Trafford from my home. I now see him from time to time in the pavilion and he has visited our local club who my son plays for several times. When he got together at the crease with Sir Clive (my all time favourite) there were usually fireworks!
Wasim was well liked and he could turn games single handedly certainly one of my more modern day players I would happily pay to see as with Flintoff but Freddie has struggled the last couple of years as you know.