Cronje Was The Bowler Who Tested me The Most - Sachin Tendulkar

Here is the complete transcript of the interview with Sachin Tendulkar. 

 “Honestly. I got out to Hansie more than anyone. When we played South Africa he always got me out more than Allan Donald or Shaun Pollock. It wasn’t that I couldn’t pick him -- it’s just that the ball seemed to go straight to a fielder”, Sachin Tendulkar said.

“I was going great guns in Durban one year and played some big shots against Donald and Pollock. Hansie came on and I flicked his first ball straight to leg-slip. I never knew what to do with him,” he said.

“I did OK against him (McGrath). But, among the spinners, Warne at his best was still something special,” he said.

The 37-year-old batsman, who has spent over 20 years in international cricket, is often compared to Sir Don Bradman and Tendulkar recalled some special moments he spent with the late Australian legend.

“We went to see him on his 90th birthday. It was very special. We were talking about averages and I said, ‘Sir Don, if you were playing today, what would you have averaged?’ And he said, ‘70 -- probably.’ I asked, ‘Why 70 and not your actual average of 99?’ Bradman said, ‘Come on, an average of 70 is not bad for a 90-year-old man.’

“This is what I tell my son. Whether you’re an 11-year-old boy or Don Bradman we should never forget it’s just a game we can all enjoy.”

“I’m really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better? Tendulkar pointed out.