Sachin Tendulkar: Is longevity greatness?

Sunil Gavaskar believes Sachin Tendulkar is ahead of other batting greats because he has played International cricket for 20 years.

To quote:

Sachin Tendulkar is slightly ahead of batting greats Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting , former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN on Wednesday.

"I think apart from Sir Garfield Sobers, nobody has played 20 years of international cricket," Gavaskar said. "And 20 years of playing at the highest level and playing at the highest standards - that is an achievement beyond compare."

While there is no debating Sachin Tendulkar's greatness, Gavaskar, by calling attention to Sachin Tendulkar's longevity, has reduced it to the level of flattery.

Surely, everyone will agree that mere longevity is not greatness.