Ex-Australia batter Michael Hussey made light of his career recently, claiming he could have scored 5,000 runs more than cricket great Sachin Tendulkar if he had begun representing Australia from a younger age. Hussey called time on his playing career as one of Australia's top scoring batters with 12,398 runs in 324 innings across all formats. His tally consists of 22 hundreds and 72 half-centuries, and he was a prolific performer for the national team. Even with an outstanding domestic career, where he compiled almost 23,000 runs against his name with 61 centuries in 273 games, Hussey was just 28 when he finally made it to international cricket. This was because of the strength of the Australian side during those times. Hussey's Achievements for Australia When Hussey made his debut in 2004, he became a key player for Australia in a very short time. He was instrumental in the success of the team, winning the ICC World Cup in 2007 and ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009. His steady and reliable batting brought value to both Tests and limited-overs cricket. Hussey explained that his statements regarding Tendulkar were made in a humorous context. He was content with his chances and accomplishments, observing that he made the most of his time upon being picked for Australia. Also Read | Sanju Samson Trains with RCB Throwdown Specialist Before IND vs AUS T20Is On The Grade Cricketer YouTube Channel, Hussey said: "I've thought about it a lot. I'd probably be about 5,000 runs past Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in the game. Most centuries, most wins, most Ashes wins, and the most World Cup wins, probably all those things. And then, unfortunately, I wake up in the morning and it's just a dream. I would have loved an opportunity earlier, but the good thing for me was that when I got picked, I had a great understanding of my game." Comparing Tendulkar and Hussey Although Hussey's international career is impressive, he was still short of Tendulkar's remarkable career records. Tendulkar scored 34,357 runs in all formats and 100 centuries, playing almost 450 more innings compared to Hussey. Despite that, Hussey's consistency and contribution to Australian cricket are very much admired. Hussey's observations confirm how much of a difference an early start can make to one's career in international cricket but also highlight his impressive capacity for performing under pressure once he is given the opportunity. His career is a reminder that late developers can leave an enduring legacy on the sport.