Sachin Tendulkar
Often referred to as The Little Master or The Master Blaster, is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.
I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two... high compactness, technique, stroke production... It all seemed to gel!
The more I see him, the more I want to see him.
First and foremost, Tendulkar is an entertainer and that for me is as important factor as any fact or figure. Too often boring players have been pushed forward as great by figures alone. For sheer entertainment, he will keep cricket alive.
In terms of technique and compactness, Tendulkar is the best.
I had to remind Gary Kristen often that he was in the covers to field against Sachin not to applaud him.
For cricket, Sachin is Maradona and Pele put together. Cricket will be a poorer sport when he quits the game. He is the first name that comes to mind the moment you ask who is the greatest.
"Sachin was so focused. He never looked like getting out. He was batting with single-minded devotion. It was truly remarkable. It was a lesson."
Whenever I see Sachin play I am reminded of the Graeme Pollock quote of Cricket being a 'see the ball, hit the ball game.' He hits the ball as if it's there to be hit.
Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third.
For Sachin the balance is there. He is quick to complete his shot. He covers the crease much better than mere mortals.
I'll always remember Sachin as a quality cricketer, one of the best of all time.
"During our team meetings, we often speak about the importance of the first 12 balls to Tendulkar. If you get him then you can thank your stars, otherwise it could mean that tough times lie ahead."
Sachin cannot cheat. He is to cricket what Gandhiji was to politics. It's clear discrimination.
You have to watch India in India truly to appreciate the pressure that Sachin Tendulkar is under every time he bats. Outside grounds, people wait until he goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer. This is cricket as Sachin has known it since the age of 16. He grew up under incredible weight of expectation and never buckled once – not under poor umpiring decisions or anything else. I place him very slightly ahead of Lara because I found him slightly tougher mentally.
With Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, it was better to be friends and make them smile rather than wind them up.
He loves India. He has named his child India. His biggest player is actually Tendulkar. Right now I'm hoping Tendulkar does not hit a catch to him because he will probably drop it to watch him bat.
This little prick's going to get more runs than you, AB.
Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal.
We did not lose to a team called India... we lost to a man called Sachin.
I am fortunate that I've to bowl at him only in the nets.