'Is he human?' British media on Sachin.

They may squabble over politics, but British newspapers sank their well-known political differences to heap praise on the genius of Sachin Tendulkar Saturday, with one former captain wondering: "Is he human?"

"The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter," wrote former skipper Michael Atherton in the Times, considered a pro-Establishment paper.

"As [political commentator] Mathew Parris wondered of [US presidential candidate] Barack Obama in these pages recently, is he human?"

The pro-Labour Guardian newspaper carried an editorial article which said: "Tendulkars greatness has been much foretold, not least by those whose standing in the game he now challenges.

[West Indian batsman Brian] Lara said of him: You know genius when you see it. And let me tell you Sachin is pure genius. Crickets greatest ever batsman Sir Donald Bradman had the same reaction.

The Guardians veteran cricket writer Mike Selvey said Sachins feat in becoming the highest run scorer in cricket serves to restart the debate over which of the record-holders should be regarded as the greatest of modern batsmen, naming Viv Richards, Alan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara and Sachin.

Coming up strongly, and almost certain to set new standards both in terms of runs and centuries, is Ricky Ponting who may render the argument superfluous, Selvey said.

Former England Test player Peter Pringle wrote in the pro-Conservative Daily Telegraph: Supreme greatness has been predicted ever since he made 326 not out in a school match, and yesterday, on the first day of Indias second Test against Australia in Mohali, that karma came to pass.

Echoing Athertons comments, Pringle said: While occasionally lured into indiscretions outside off-stump, he has never been lured into any outside the laws. Nothing has stained Tendulkars saintliness over his 20-year career. Indeed, he appears to have no unnatural appetites, save for scoring runs and Formula One.

Plenty are born with talent but few are as driven to express it in full and he is as much a product of the nets as blessed genes.