MOHALI Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar surpassed West Indies` Brian Lara as the highest test run-scorer in the second match against Australia in Mohali on Friday.

Tendulkar passed his target of 15 runs after tea in the first innings to move on to a career record of 11,955 runs.

Lara had scored 11,953 runs before he retired from international cricket in 2007.

Here are five facts about the player rated as one of the all-time greatest batsmen and the face of Indian cricket for two decades

A teenage prodigy, Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai and made his test debut against Pakistan as a curly-haired 16-year-old, becoming the youngest Indian test player. A year later, he hit his maiden test hundred in England.

Tendulkar holds a number of batting records, including the aggregate one-day runs (16,361) and centuries (42). He also holds the record for most test hundreds (39).

He had two unsuccessful terms as India captain, the first aged 23 in 1996 before being axed 17 months later after his batting suffered. He was re-appointed in 1999, but stood down after a 3-0 test series rout in Australia the following year.

Tendulkar was named player of the 2003 World Cup, scoring a record 673 runs to help India reach the final, where they lost to Australia. The next year, he equalled compatriot Sunil Gavaskars world record of 34 test hundreds while compiling 248 not out, his highest score, in Australia.

Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997. Has suffered a series of injuries since 1999 attributed largely to the wear and tear of constant playing.