Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has been induced into the Bradman Foundation honourees list, along with former Australia skipper Steve Waugh on Wednesday. Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket last year, was added to the prestigious Bradman Hall of Fame at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a gala function.
Don Bradman once said that Tendulkar’s technique reminds him of his own batting and the Aussie legend also included him in his all-time XI. Tendulkar, who met the late great batsman in Adelaide during his 90th birthday, recalled the incident when he and Shane Warne were nervous in asking questions.
“I remember Warnie was with me in the car and we were discussing who was going to ask the first question,” Tendulkar recalled. “I said, ‘You are from Australia, so you should start’. And he was like, ‘No, you’re a batsman, so you can relate to him much better than what I can’.”
Tendulkar was honoured at the historic SCG, where he has scored three centuries in five Test matches. He also made an unbeaten 241 against Australia in 2003-04, which is regarded as one of the best innings played at the SCG.
“The SCG is my favourite ground. I have always maintained that. It brings back all the memories,” Sachin said. “I was just outside in the car and I said it feels great to be back. It’s been a very social venue to me. Right back from 1991, which was the first time I played here.”
“(It’s) just the feel of the ground. Whenever I walked in I felt I could go on and on batting. I just enjoyed the atmosphere, and the pavilion especially. It’s a fabulous pavilion with a lot of history. It is the heritage and the impact all the players have left on this ground.”
“Performing against Australia always gave me a lot of satisfaction because I knew if you perform against the leading side then everyone takes notice of your performance,” he added. “It is a different kind of satisfaction.”
