On This Day: Sachin Tendulkar becomes highest-ever Test run scorer

India legend Sachin Tendulkar will always be known as one of cricket’s all-time stars, but he arguably achieved his most notable feat on this day in 2008.

With Joe Root having recently progressed into fifth place on the all-time list of highest Test run scorers, there has been more movement in those standings than there has been for some time.

However, while the England legend will have him in his sights, India‘s Sachin Tendulkar remains clear of the rest after his iconic 24-year Test career.

The top-order batsman, generally coming to the crease between numbers three and five, produced one of the standout feats in modern-day sport in compiling 15,921 runs in 200 matches.

Tendulkar still sits 2,543 runs ahead of anyone else in the list for Test runs, with Root – the closest active player – still 3,223 runs adrift after the first innings of the second Test with Pakistan.

On this day 16 years ago, Tendulkar – then 35 years of age – moved his name to the top of those rankings as India squared off against Australia in Mohali.

Just 15 runs were required to eclipse the mark of West Indies batsman Brian Lara, and Tendulkar managed that with minimal fuss on the opening day of the second Test.

Upon finishing a well-run three off the bowling of Peter Siddle, fireworks greeted Tendulkar’s spectacular achievement, one that he later described as the most notable of his career.

Tendulkar’s knock during the first innings helped India to a 320-run victory, giving his side a 1-0 lead in the best-of-four series.

While a total of six players have since moved past Lara, they did not have the longevity to ever threaten Tendulkar’s final total.

Root has taken just the 12 years to reach his running total of 12,698, the 33-year-old currently competing in his 148th Test match.

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