Former captain of the Australian cricket team, Ricky Ponting, said that India’s Sachin Tendulkar is the second best batsman ever to play the game, behind the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. Ponting believes only Bradman can be ranked higher than Tendulkar.
"For me, he's the greatest batsman after Don Bradman. While I hold Brian Lara in high regard because of his match-winning ability, I don't think any batsman can achieve more out of the game than Sachin has," Ponting was quoted saying by Cricket Australia website.
Ponting, who captained Australia twice during their 2003 and 2007 World Cup victory, explained how the word ‘great’ cannot be used generally to describe any cricketer who has been performing for a short period of time. He differentiated it further by telling how 'Little Master' Tendulkar earned it.
"The word great is often bandied about, but great is something that's achieved over a long period of time. Sachin played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs (and one Twenty20 International), scored 34,357 runs and 100 international hundreds - that is great.
"Younger players may reach No.1 over a period of 12 or 18 months - that's not great. That's having a good year. If you can do it as long as Sachin did, only then you be considered great."
The former right-handed batsman shared the dugout with Tendulkar during his stint at Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ponting said when Tendulkar used to play against him in the international arena, he automatically learned to admire his game as continuously used amazed him.
The 41-year-old retired cricketer used five words to describe Tendulkar - "competitive, passionate, driven, composed and complete” - while his love of cricket was also a standout.
"His abiding love for the game and pursuit of goals were astonishing - just to keep motivating yourself every day for 24 years to stay hungry and fit is what I admire so much. He had dreams of winning a World Cup, and he finally got to do it in his sixth tournament, in 2011.
"We were always trying to play catch-up, and he always managed to stay ahead. It was an indication of his class. Even though he is a couple of years older than I am, it seemed he would outlast me - and he did," he said.
Both Ponting and Tendulkar developed a good relationship during their Mumbai Indians time in recent years. They played together and were later involved in mentoring the young cricketers together. Ponting said he got to know Tendulkar during the IPL time and it was a delight.
"Over the last couple of years - during my association with the Mumbai Indians - I've got to know him better," Ponting added. "It was a delight to get to know him away from the publicity's glare and over a glass of wine - Sachin and I have done a lot of that over the last couple of years, and I think we've both been able to appreciate each other a lot more as a result."
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