Former Australian legend claims he could’ve surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record if started earlier

Former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey, affectionately known as Mr Cricket, has sparked plenty of chatter with a tongue-in-cheek remark about how his career might have stacked up against the great Sachin Tendulkar’s. Reflecting on his late start in international cricket, Hussey said that if he’d debuted earlier, he might have ended up with 5,000 more runs than Tendulkar himself.

Speaking on The Grade Cricketer YouTube show, Hussey joked, “I’ve thought about it a lot. I’d probably be about 5,000 runs past Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in the game. Most centuries, most wins, most Ashes, and the most World Cups too. Then I wake up, and it’s just a dream!”

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A Late Start in a Golden Generation

Hussey made his international debut for Australia at 28, a rarity in modern cricket. His late entry wasn’t due to a lack of talent but rather the dominance of the Australian side in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When he finally broke through, he quickly became a vital part of the team, earning a reputation for reliability, class, and composure under pressure.

Across formats, Hussey scored 12,398 runs, including 22 centuries. In comparison, Tendulkar, who debuted at just 16, amassed 34,000-plus runs and an unmatched 100 international centuries over a 24-year career.

Legacy Beyond Numbers

Despite the huge numerical gap, Hussey’s impact on Australian cricket is undeniable. His consistent performances played a key role in Australia’s 2007 ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy victories. With nearly 23,000 first-class runs before his international debut, Hussey’s journey is a story of patience, passion, and perseverance.

Even if his claim was made in jest, it beautifully highlights how timing and opportunity can shape sporting legacies and how a player’s true worth goes far beyond the numbers.