Tendulkar most reliable batsman: Former Kiwi cricketers

When it comes to batting for life, Sachin Tendulkar is the choice for most of the Kiwi cricketers, who rate the Indian batting maestro as the most accomplished player of his generation.

When it comes to batting for life, Sachin Tendulkar is the choice for most of the Kiwi cricketers, who rate the Indian batting maestro as the most accomplished player of his generation.

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New Zealand’s ‘Herald on Sunday´ newspaper asked a few former cricketers who was the best batsman in the world and whom they would like to bat for their life?

Replying to the questions, former Kiwi Test players John Morrison and Dipak Patel picked the Indian batting ace and were all admiration for his exploits all around the world in different conditions and various match situations.

“I’d go with Tendulkar. He is still the most capable batsman in the world. He has the full array of shots too, though he might not play them as freely as he once did,” Morrison said.

“I like Tendulkar because there are guys out there brilliant on certain types of surfaces but he is adept at playing on anything. Slow, bouncy, turning, whatever -- he covers the field on all of them.

“I’d still back him ahead of everybody, even at the age of 36,” Morrison, who played 17 Tests between 1974 and 1982, said.

Dipak Patel echoed the same sentiment.

“I like Gautam Gambhir and Graeme Smith at the moment but in the end, if they were batting for my life, I couldn’t go past Tendulkar. He’s got the experience, the sheer weight of runs and best all-round game.