8216;Tendulkar better than Bradman8217;

Tendulkars versatility,longevity and productivity are so far ahead of his closest rival in the game. Just as Don Bradmans Test average of 99.94 was more than 50 per cent better than anyone else,so Tendulkars tally of 99 international hundreds is similarly out of reach of his nearest competitor,Ricky Ponting,who has 69, Hughes wrote.

When you factor in Tendulkars prowess in all countries and all conditions averaging around 50 in every major country apart from Pakistan and the burden of expectation of a billion people,he must be regarded as the best ever.

Bradman was extraordinary,but he only ever played in Australia and England. Bradman watched Tendulkar bat,famously saying that the way he fashioned runs reminded him of himself. Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsman who ever took guard, he added.

Hughess claims come as the 37-year-old prepares for his second World Cup final,against Sri Lanka at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

He has scored 464 runs in eight matches at this World Cup,including two hundreds and two fifties,to be the tournaments highest run-scorer.

While his overall Test average of 56.94 pales into insignificance when compared to Bradmans 99.94,Tendulkars 99 international centuries dwarf Bradmans mark of 29 tons.

However,in Tests,Tendulkars ratio is roughly one century per 3.5 matches,while Bradmans figure is much sharper at 1.8.