London, July 19: As cricket fans look forward to Sachin Tendulkar’s staggering hundredth century when he takes the field in the 2000th Test match ever to be played, more legends of the game have come out in praise of the maestro.
Speaking in a panel discussion at Indian captain MS Dhoni’s ‘East Meets West’ gala dinner in London on Monday, former West Indies captain Brian Lara said, “Sachin started playing [Test cricket] at the age of 16. And at 38 now, we have not seen a better player. Sachin is the best batsman in the world.”
Lara, a contemporary and competitor of Tendulkar, further added, “I am going to the Lord’s to see Sachin make his 100th century.” Lara made his debut a year after Tendulkar and amassed 11953 runs from 131 Tests at an average of 52.88.
Another of the game’s greats, senior Indian batsman Rahul Dravid paid his own tribute to teammate Tendulkar saying, “In India we have many gods and he is one of them.” The more than charitable Dravid was at the receiving end of compliments himself.
In reply to one of cricket commentator Henry Blofeld’s questions, Lara said, “While Sachin is special, Dravid is the Wall.”
“Dravid is always going to be there - he is a tremendous player,” he added.
Former England captain Alec Stewart described Dravid as “India’s most technically gifted player.”
Stewart described Tendulkar as the “modern day Bradman”. Speaking about Lara, he said, “He was the best player in the 90s. But in the modern day, Sachin is a better player than Lara — a modern day Bradman.”
Asked to predict the outcome of the India-England series, Stewart gave it 2-1 to England.
