Shane
Warne was a “fierce competitor” remarked Sachin Tendulkar while recalling the legendary leg-spinner’s exploits on the field. Warne died
on March 4 in Thailand at the age of 52. Recalling Warne’s greatness,
Tendulkar, who shared an epic rivalry with the Australia great, said that his first
series against Warne had put him under pressure.

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“My
first proper series against Shane Warne was in 1998 in India and everyone
tagged that series as Tendulkar versus Shane Warne clash. That kind of
following is going to put you under pressure,” recalled Tendulkar.

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“When
you are playing a world-class bowler like him, you just can’t turn up and hope
that things are going to be okay.

“So
I had to prepare properly, not just out being there at the nets but when you’re
sitting in the room, you have to be a step ahead of him, what he would be
thinking because he was extremely good in putting pressure and playing mind
games and trying to plan your dismissal.”

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Since
1998 Tendulkar shared a fierce rivalry with Warne till the latter’s retirement
in 2007. Tendulkar and Warne’s rivalry was between two of cricket’s artist
cricketers. Their rivalry has become folklore in cricket.

“It
didn’t matter, you looked at his body language. One didn’t know whether Warne
had picked up four wickets, five wickets or he was bowling wicketless. Every
delivery that he bowled, he was a fierce competitor

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“So
even if you’re facing the second last over of the day, one had to keep their
eyes open, because he was always up to something and trying to figure out how
could he dismissed,” added Tendulkar.

“Most potent player”: Lara

Meanwhile,
another rival of Warne, West Indies great Brian Lara hailed the Australian
cricket as the “most potent player”, who sealed his place “in
the upper echelons of world cricket” with his performances in the Ashes
series, which included the ball of the century that he bowled to England’s Mike
Gatting in 1993.

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“I
grew up in a country where spin bowling dominated. The lower part of the
Caribbean, Trinidad, Guyana, we played spin very well. And Warne posed a lot of
trouble for a lot of other players. I found myself winning a lot of those
battles, but he never gave up,” Lara said.