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
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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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