The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Mohali

Sachin Tendulkar became the leading run-scorer in Test cricket Friday after passing Brian Lara's mark of 11,953.

Tendulkar achieved his latest batting record when he reached 16 with a glide through gully for three off Peter Siddle's first ball after tea on the first day of the second Test against Australia and pumped his fists as he took the runs.

Captain Ricky Ponting was the first of the Australians to shake Tendulkar's hand before play was held up for a couple of minutes while celebratory fireworks were let off.

Despite the significance of the achievement, there was only a small crowd on hand to see Tendulkar at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.

The 35-year-old batsman, playing his 152nd test, already owns the most hundreds in Tests with 39, three more than Ponting, and has 49 half centuries.

He also has the record for the most limited-overs runs with 16,361 from 417 one-day internationals.

Tendulkar started the second match of the four-Test series against Australia with 11,939 test runs at an average of 54.02 and had crept up on Lara's record.

In the three-match series against Sri Lanka earlier in the year he managed just 95 runs and added 13 and 49 in the first Test against the Australians in Bangalore.

Australia's Don Bradman, whose record consisted of 6,996 runs at an average of 99.96 in the 1930s and 40s, is considered the greatest test batsman of all time. Lara and Tendulkar are regularly placed on the next rung of stars.

When Bradman watched Tendulkar on television at the 1996 World Cup he said the Indians batting style reminder him of his own.

Lara, who played 131 Tests, overtook former Australia captain Allan Border's mark of 11,174 runs in Adelaide in November 2005.

Border saw Tendulkar's achievement in his role as a television commentator in India.

Lara's most significant innings were a world-record 400 against England in 2004, which overtook Matthew Haydens 380 as the highest score in Tests, and followed his 375 against the same team 10 years earlier.

Lara, who retired after the 2007 World Cup, made his 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88 with 34 centuries and 48 half centuries.

Tendulkar's highest score of 248 came in 2004 against Bangladesh and he has four double centuries, including 241 against Australia in 2004.

He made his Test debut as a 16-year-old in 1989 and has dominated bowling attacks all over the world over the past 17 years.

Affectionately known as 'The Little Master,' he is worshipped in India and receives a huge roar each time he plays the ball, makes a run or fields near the boundary.