Richard Hadlee's high praise will lift me: Tendulkar

Updated on: 05 April,2009 07:19 AM IST |
Agencies |

New Zealand's greatest all-rounder Richard Hadlee dished out a heavyweight of a compliment to Sachin Tendulkar on Friday when he said that the Indian was the greatest batsman to grace the sport

Debasish Datta got Tendulkar to talk about Hadlee's words of praise in Wellington on Saturday:

It's a nice feeling to hear what Richard Hadlee had to say about me. I would call it a special certificate from him.

I heard something about it this morning but did not pay too much attention since I do not focus on anything other than cricket during Test matches. It was an honour to play against Hadlee on our tour here in 1989-90 and it feels good to hear such praise coming from a person who played at the highest level with distinction.

Frankly, this was out of the blue and I really didn't expect it.

It makes me happy though and the accolade will definitely motivate me to play better. I am so happy that he remembers my innings of 88 caught John Wright bowled Danny Morrison (a dismissal which denied Tendulkar from becoming the youngest Test centurion).

I also remember reading a newspaper interview which Hadlee gave on the last day of that Napier Test. Besides his picture, it was mentioned that he played his first Test in Wellington, 1973, the year I was born.

I am indeed fortunate to have played with him considering I was born in the same year of his Test debut.

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