Few names dominate the conversation about who is the greatest batter. Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara keep on popping up. But if you ask Wasim Akram about the toughest batter he ever bowled to, he has a definitive answer.
What Did Wasim Akram Say About Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara?
Akram, appearing on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast, reflected on the formidable opponents he faced across the late 1980s, 90s, and 2000s. Highlighting a legendary icon who held a special place above all others.
“This question has been asked lots of times. Look, I played against the greats like Sir Vivian Richards; top of the list for me,” Akram said. “It’s just not his batting. It’s the whole package.
“The charisma he used to carry around him. And then, of course, I played against Allan Border, Graham Gooch. Talking about the early 90s, then you come back to, you know, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara.”
While Tendulkar and Lara masterminded modern batting through technical perfection and genius stroke-play, Akram emphasised that greatness is sometimes measured by something else—aura.
“I’m missing quite a few, but I think Viv Richards kind of was at the end of his career after about ’87, ’88, the great wave, but what a character he was,” Akram concluded. “I mean, he was everyone’s hero. Every cricketer’s hero.”
Tendulkar finished his illustrious career with 34,357 international runs, 100 centuries, and an average of 48.52 in Tests and 44.83 in ODIs. Impressive numbers. Meanwhile, Lara accumulated 22,358 international runs. Featuring 34 Test centuries and defining an era with his ability to play long, destructive innings.
Richards represented the era just preceding Tendulkar and Lara. Playing 121 tests, scoring 8,540 runs at a 50.23 average, alongside 6,721 ODI runs at a strike rate that was decades ahead of his contemporaries.
While statistics capture runs and averages, Akram’s candid reflection reminds us that true cricketing immortality is forged through character, charisma, and the indelible stamp an icon leaves on their peers.
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