MUMBAI, India (CMC):

BATTING SENSATION Brian Lara says he relishes the thought of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar breaking his record for the most career runs in Tests. Lara currently holds the record with 11,953 runs from 131 Tests but Tendulkar is just 64 runs short of the mark, and could break it during the ongoing first Test in Bangalore against Australia.

"I wish Sachin all the very best. I hope he breaks my record during the Bangalore Test itself. I hope he continues scoring runs like he has done all throughout his career," Lara said.

Proud

"I feel very proud to be in the same league as Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border and Sachin Tendulkar. We all have to appreciate what Sachin has done. He is one of the greatest players to have graced the game."

Lara and Tendulkar have arguably been the finest batsmen to grace the contemporary game, with careers running parallel to each other.

The 39-year old Lara finished his career with 34 centuries and an average of 52.88, while Tendulkar has garnered 11,890 runs from 150 Tests, at an average of 54.23. He has scored 39 Test centuries, the most by any player. Lara, who quit international cricket last year following the World Cup in the Caribbean, said he believed Australian captain Ricky Ponting would eventually eclipse the Test batting record.

"Ricky is a very special player. I remember when he had come for a Test series to West Indies under Steve Waugh, he was not in the playing XI," he said.