It's still perfectly conceivable, however, that Tendulkar batted better than most. His home ground for that season was Headingley, and in those days you could usually bank on Headingley being a seamer's paradise most games. Taking a look at the
Yorkshire averages that season, there was actually just 1 batsman - Martyn Moxon - who outperformed him.
Averaging 46 playing for Yorkshire is every bit as notable a feat as, for instance, averaging 83 or 78 on the flat decks at Chelmsford (which Graham Gooch and Mark Waugh did).