There have been 10 players from the past who have played more than what our Sachin has played .... He has the 11th longest career in the history of test cricket .... Wilfred Rhodes (Eng, 30 years 315 days) .... Dennis Brian Close (Eng, 26 years 356 days) .... Frank Woolley (Eng, 25 years 13 days) .... George Headley (WI, 24 years 10 days) .... John Traicos (SA/Zim, 23 years 40 days) ....Sir Jack Hobbs (Eng, 22 years 233 days) .... George Gunn (Eng, 22 years 120 days) .... Syd Gregory (Aus, 22 years 32 days) .... Freddie Brown (Eng, 21 years 336 days) .... Dave Nourse (SA, 21 years 313 days) .... Sachin Tendulkar (Ind, 20 years 234 days as on Aug 03)

The one who comes closest to him is another GREAT Donald Bradman who played from 1928 to 1948. But his career was actually shortened due to the intervening World War II, because of which he got to play only 52 tests. By the time he quit test cricket, he was already 40 years. I guess, there would be no one left to beat Sachin Tendulkar ever because he was lucky to have arrived at a time when both forms of cricket was being played out in equal measure and the test cricket was not sacrificed to cater to the calendar of other matched like one day and now the 20-20. None will ever get this kind of opportunity.

Also, one more reason none would survive so long in the future is for the reason that the schedules are taxing that most players would wear out in their early 30s. Look at the frequency of injuries to players world wide. There is no recuperation period at all and none wants to wait long to come back fearing they may get discarded for ever. So, they play on pretending to be well whe ...more

Wilfred Rhodes
England
Full name Wilfred Rhodes

Born October 29, 1877, North Moor, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire

Died July 8, 1973, Branksome Park, Dorset (aged 95 years 252 days)

Major teams England, Europeans (India), Maharaja of Patiala's XI, Yorkshire
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