Last week Sachin Tendulkar made a claim to be the best batsman of all times by breaking Brian Lara's Test record of 11,953 runs.

Tendulkar became the first batsman in the history of the game to reach 12,000 runs after scoring 88 against Australia as India thumped them by 320 runs.

The big question that I have is which one of these superstars will be remembered as the greatest in their era?

Having seen both of them over the years and actually having played against them it is hard to decipher which one of them is superior.

Lara's record of scoring 400 not out during Test cricket, will probably stand for years to come.

Tendulkar, on the other hand, has the Test record aggregate and has scored more hundreds then any other batsman ever to play the game.

In an effort to assist me in making a final judgment I asked a few of my fellow cricket colleagues to give me their opinion on who is the greatest, Lara or Tendulkar.

Dennis Archer - One player is flashy, the other plays straighter.

Lara has the capacity to bat for longer periods with lesser talent around him. (tie)

Janeiro Tucker - I wouldn't say one is better then the other as they have very different roles.

I think Lara has scored bigger runs against the bigger teams and he does it worldwide.

Tendulkar on the other hand is more of a sub-continent player and plays better on the slower wickets.

To me they are two different players like you and me, I'm a ball beater and you are a ball eater. (tie)

Noel Gibbons - I am definitely a Tendulkar fan, but I enjoy watching Lara as they have two different styles of batting.

Lara when he is on is the classiest in the world, but Tendulkar has a wider variety of stroke play. (Tendulkar)

Philip (Billy Joe) Pitcher - Lara played in the West Indies in the 90s when they were weak, but still managed to score big runs against all bowlers.

Lara broke the Test record twice for the highest individual score and currently holds the record of 400 runs.

Lara also holds the English County record of 500 runs. On the flip side Tendulkar is probably the best in the world playing against spin bowling. His highest test score in Test is 248.

Tendulkar has always had great batsmen around him, therefore, very rarely was his back up against the wall where he had to produce under pressure. (Lara)

Gus Logie - It is a debate that you cannot win as they are both great players who deserve to be respected and honoured for all that they have achieved in their lifetime. (tie)

Arnold Manders - If you want a man to win that almost impossible match single handedly, then Lara is the man.

Tendulkar will score more runs consistently than Lara and you can always rely on him to make you runs.

Lara is either hot or cold, but when he is on his game he can't be matched by anyone. Tendulkar is my pick because of his consistency and he is a lot tighter in defence than Lara.

Form is temporary, but class is permanent. (Tendulkar)

In the past having played for Bermuda I have had the privilege of meeting both of these great players.

Firstly, Lara and I met playing in my first Red Stripe in Jamaica.

As he came to the wicket I had a few words to say to him to try and unsettle him.

The rest was history as he went on and scored 68 with the greatest of ease.

In the same tournament I scored back-to-back hundreds against Windward Islands' and then Jamaica,

Lara came to me and said, "Well done Smitty two really good knocks".

That is one moment in my sporting career that I will never forget even though I am not really a Brian Lara fan.

Tendulkar on the other hand, I met him in Bermuda at Camden House during a reception for the India team. I used the time to pick his brains as we say in cricket terms.

I wanted to know what it was that made him such an exceptional player.

He simply stated that not a day goes by that he does not pick up his bat and when he does bat in training he likes to bat for at least two hours at a time.

In addition, to that he also said that he likes to read for concentration.

Often when one reads they get distracted easily so he would read merely for concentration. Unique I must say.

My final summation on the Lara v Tendulkar issue is that Lara is a phenomenal batsman with the ability to score big runs.

Tendulkar who is better known for his ability to destroy bowling attacks in the one day game has proven why many around the world rate him as the best.

By surpassing Lara's Test record shows that Tendulkar has a game that can suit both styles of cricket.

To choose between these two awesome players is like flipping a coin; you have a 50/50 chance.

Mind you, if the game was on the line and I needed one of them to bat for my team I would choose none other then Sachin "The Little Master" Tendulkar.