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'Sachin may have rushed his return'
Jonty Rhodes on Friday said Tendulkar may have hurried his comeback from injury owing to the pressure to return to action.
Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes on Friday said Sachin Tendulkar may have hurried his comeback from an elbow injury owing to the immense pressure on him to return to action.
"Sachin was always under pressure to comeback and also a team without him is never the same," Rhodes said when asked whether Tendulkar rushed his comeback.
"And Sachin certainly is not a player who would want to sit back in the dressing room. He is not the one who would shirk responsibilities," he said.
"He has played in so many Tests and one-dayers and injuries were bound to come as he is a little guy using a heavy bat. Golfers and tennis players suffer from the same elbow injury," said Rhodes, who was here as a brand ambassador for safari operator Conservation Corporation Africa.
Rhodes, one of the best fielders ever, also raved about the consistency levels of Tendulkar.
"He started at the age of 16 and I'm amazed how he has managed to maintain such high levels."
Rhodes said it would just take one big knock for Tendulkar to touch the dizzy heights once again.
"It is difficult as a batsman to come back from a break but class is permanent and only form varies. So even if he struggles with his timing and footwork initially it would take just one big knock for him to regain his touch," he said.
On the upcoming India-Pakistan series, the South African said only a consistent India would be able to put it across Pakistan, who will arrive a lot more tougher gaining from their experience in Australia.
"A team touring Australia will emerge a lot tougher with its experiences and the same will be the case with Pakistan," he said.
However, Rhodes said India would enjoy the edge as it was a side boasting of more depth.
"The Indian team has more depth and if they also show consistency, then they will have the edge," he said.
On the two captains, Rhodes, arguably one of the most recognised South African cricketers in the sub-continent, said the two presented contrasting characters.
"Inzamam goes about his business very quietly but Ganguly shows his emotions, especially while bowling he is worked up.
"Inzy gets lot of respect from his players while Ganguly wants to lead by example. He likes to leave his own profile," Rhodes said.
Asked whether Twenty20, the new experiment in making cricket more TV friendly, will replace the one-dayers, Rhodes said, "I don't beleive that it will replace the 50-over match. It will only become another form of entertainment."
