MOHALI, Oct 17: India’s Sachin Tendulkar described his career as a “fantastic journey” after eclipsing retired West Indian Brian Lara’s world record for most Test runs on Friday.

“It has taken me 19 years to get the record,” the 35-year-old Tendulkar said after achieving the feat on the opening day of the second Test against Australia.

“It can’t happen overnight,” Tendulkar, who made his debut as a 16-year-old, told reporters. “It has been a fantastic journey. There have been ups and downs in the process of success.”

Tendulkar, among the team’s senior players faced with questions of retirement, added jokingly: “If stones are thrown at you, you convert them into milestones.”

The batsman needed 15 runs to surpass Lara’s record of 11,953 runs, which he achieved after tea.

He also completed 12,000 runs in Tests before being dismissed for 88. Tendulkar missed out on the record in the first Test in Bangalore, where he dug in to salvage a draw on the final day.

“I decided to just keep things simple, watching the ball, keeping my eyes on the ball and be alert,” he stated.—Reuters