Stats Analysis

Tendulkar gets to 11,000 Test runs

Sachin Tendulkar's 11,000 runs have come in 223 innings, and he becomes the third player in the club, after Allan Border and Brian Lara

S Rajesh
S Rajesh
28-Jul-2007
Sachin Tendulkar has had his share of problems against Monty Panesar, which is why it was probably fitting that he brought up his 11,000th Test run off him, driving him through the covers for four to move from 23 to 27. That shot took Tendulkar's tally to 11,002, next only to Brian Lara and Allan Border in the list of highest run-getters in Tests. Tendulkar has reached the milestone in 223 innings, which is 36 fewer than the number Border needed, but ten more than Lara's 213. However, Tendulkar's average of 55.43 is more than Border's (51.00) and Lara's (54.04) immediately after the innings in which they reached the landmark. (If Tendulkar gets out without adding to his 57, his average will be 55.16.)
Tendulkar hasn't been in the greatest form of late, but over the years he has given spectators plenty of champagne moments. The table below charts his progress to 11,000 runs: his best period was in the late 1990s - it took him only 38 Tests to move from 4000 to 8000. His last 1000 runs have come at a slower pace, taking him 17 Tests (28 innings).
Tendulkar's progression to 11,000 Test runs
Runs Tests Innings Average 100s/ 50s
1000 19 28 41.46 4/ 4
2000 32 44 50.30 7/ 10
3000 45 67 50.85 10/ 15
4000 58 86 52.47 14/ 18
5000 67 103 53.19 18/ 20
6000 76 120 55.70 22/ 24
7000 85 136 57.98 26/ 28
8000 96 154 57.58 29/ 32
9000 111 179 56.82 32/ 36
10,000 122 195 57.70 34/ 40
11,000 139* 223 55.43 37/ 44
*Till close of play on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test
As Tendulkar's career summary shows, one of the highlights of his career has been his consistency against all teams and in all conditions. He averages 54.15 against Australia, and more than 50 against all teams except New Zealand (48.27), Pakistan (39.91) and South Africa (36.42). His record across continents is pretty good too, with the average dropping below 40 only in Africa (39.81).
The below lists the best batsmen against Australia in the period in which they have been the most dominant side. Among batsmen who've played at least ten Tests against them since 1990, only Kevin Pietersen has a better record, and the difference is marginal.
Best batsmen against Australia since 1990 (at least 10 Tests)
Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s
Kevin Pietersen 10 963 53.50 2/ 6
Sachin Tendulkar 21 1859 53.11 7/ 7
VVS Laxman 16 1457 52.03 4/ 6
Brian Lara 31 2856 51.00 9/ 11
Ijaz Ahmed 11 913 50.72 5/ 1
Richie Richardson 14 1084 49.27 4/ 4
Rahul Dravid 19 1503 48.48 2/ 8
Michael Vaughan 10 959 47.95 4/ 1
Graham Thorpe 16 1235 45.74 3/ 8
Graham Gooch 15 1344 44.80 3/ 9
The presence of other batting giants like Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly has meant that Tendulkar has forged some excellent partnerships over these 18 years. His 97-run stand with Dravid at Trent Bridge took their overall partnership tally to 5009, which is the third-highest among all pairs, and the highest for a non-opening pair. (Greenidge and Haynes top the list with 6482, while Hayden and Langer are next with 6081.)
Tendulkar's stands with his batting partners
Tendulkar with... Innings Runs Average 100/ 50 p'ships
Rahul Dravid 95 5009 55.04 15/ 18
Sourav Ganguly 62 3486 60.10 10/ 12
Mohammad Azharuddin 42 2385 58.17 9/ 5
VVS Laxman 34 1740 52.72 4/ 8
Virender Sehwag 11 946 86.00 3/ 3

S Rajesh is stats editor of Cricinfo