Sydney: England fast bowler James Anderson, who tokk Sachin's wicket nine time, says that his wicket was always a huge thing for the team and had such an effect not only on us but on India as well, so getting him out as many times as he has is something he will treasure for the rest of my days.
Anderson, who is gearing up for furst Ashes test, said the sights and sounds of Sachin Tendulkar making his emotional bow from cricket on Saturday stirred mixed emotions. He was such a great player for so long that there will be a few bowlers delighted that he won't be around any more.
He said that as an international cricketer you always want to play in the big matches, test yourself against the best, and he was quite clearly one of the best, if not the best.
“It is quite humbling to be the bowler who dismissed him more times in Tests than any other; another reason for me to carry on pinching myself,” said England pacer.
He recalled a match in Chennai, o”f all my memories of Sachin, the one that sticks out is the hundred he made against us in Chennai at the end of 2008, when we returned to play the series in India after the atrocity in Mumbai.”
The innings was amazing, but it was what happened after it that underlined why he is one of the true greats of the game and one of its true gentlemen
First, he dedicated the innings and India's win to the people of his home city then he thanked us publicly for being there.
It was obviously a big blow to lose that match but his gesture meant a great deal. Sachin realised it was a big call for us to go back to India as, from the outside, there were concerns about safety and security. He understood it would have been easier for us to say No.
But he gave us a lot of respect for doing what we did and the feeling was mutual.
If I had the chance to ask him one question, it would be how he has kept himself motivated for so long and so grounded and focused. Nobody but him can know what it is like not to be able to take a stroll for fear of being mobbed.
I'm pretty sure the answer would be sheer love of the game. He will be missed.
