Crossing Lara's landmark was sure to happen. But the debate, as always, is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar the best batsman ever to have played cricket?

One needs to take into account a hell lot of factors when comparing Sachin with yesteryear players or his contemporaries. Be it crowd's expectations or the game's popularity in this part of the world or his own standards, all weigh more on Sachin than his cricketing gear. I think it would be a sin to compare him with someone as Sachin has transcended a number of heroes of Indian cricket to achieve a demi-god status.

Personally, I believe, Sachin is the best one-day player far ahead of any of his coevals. But in test matches, I'm not sure whether he would make it to the top five.