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'I scored 22 runs off his first two overs. Warne looked at me, smiled and said 'well played'': Tendulkar's ex-teammate
Sachin Tendulkar's former teammate has narrated a fascinating story as to how the master batter's advice helped him tackle spin genius Shane Warne.
The legendary Shane Warne was part of some memorable battles with some of the greatest batters of his era. His duels with Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Saeed Anwar and Aravinda de Silva fetched eyeballs all across the world. Warne, a true cricket and Australian icon in every stretch of the imagination, passed away earlier this month in Thailand at the age of 52 but the legacy he leaves behind is unparalleled and tough to match. (Also Read: 'I'll talk to Ganguly. Unfair to keep fans away from India-Pakistan contests': Ramiz Raja seeks to approach BCCI chief)
Warne debuted in 1992 with a lukewarm show against India, but in the following years, established himself as the best spinner in the world. And by the time 1998 arrived and it was Australia’s time to travel to India, the entire world was buzzing with the idea of watching Warne squaring off against Tendulkar. Of course, it was the Indian batting maestro who won the contest, but more than his batting, Tendulkar’s impact and plan of throwing Warne off track has a whole different significance altogether.
Before Australia’s first Test against India in Chennai, the Australians faced Mumbai – a team that was captained by Tendulkar – in a three-day practice match. One of the team’s veteran batters and Tendulkar’s teammates, Amit Pagnis recalled how Sachin’s tactics of dealing with Warne helped him gain the upper hand over the leg-spinner.
"During our meeting on the eve of the match, Sachin and Sanjay [Manjrekar] told us not to give Warne any unnecessary respect. I dispatched his first ball, a flighted leg-spinner, over covers for four. I think I scored 21 or 22 runs off his first two overs," Pagnis told Mid-Day.
"Their captain Taylor took Warne off the attack after those two overs and brought him back only after I got out. But I must admit that some of his deliveries were unplayable. And when I reached my 50 with a late-cut boundary, Warne looked at me, smile and said, 'well played'."
Mumbai won the match at the Brabourne Stadium by 10 wickets, with Tendulkar scoring a double-century – an unbeaten 204 – but as it would turn out, he was only warming up ahead of a legendary series that would go on to cement the Warne vs Tendulkar rivalry as one of the greatest in cricketing history.
