For cricket Sachin is Maradona and Pele put together: Allan Donald

10-Mar-2013 3:51:00 PM

Allan Donald hails Sachin Tendulkar for being Maradona and Pele put together as far as his impact on cricket is concerned.

Legendary former South African paceman Allan Donald believes the gentleman's game would suffer an incredible loss once Sachin Tendulkar retires as the Indian veteran is "Maradona and Pele put together".

Donald was one of the most feared fast bowlers on the international stage in his time and regularly face Tendulkar on the pitch. Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the best batsman to ever olay the game perhaps second only to Don Bradman. Donald dismissed the now 39 year old world cup winner 5 times in his career.

"Sachin Tendulkar's charm goes beyond the field. For cricket he is Maradona and Pele put together, it is as simple as that. Cricket will be a poorer sport when he quits the game. He has been unbelievably special," the 46-year-old South African has written in the upcoming book 'Sachin - Cricketer of the Century', authored by Vimal Kumar and set to hit the stands later this month.

Donald said whenever he is asked about the greatest in the game, the first name that comes to his mind is Tendulkar.

"Tendulkar's is the first name that comes to mind the moment you ask who is the greatest," he said.

"In 1985, my granddad introduced Sachin to me through the Wisden Cricketer magazine. When he played for Yorkshire in county cricket, I saw him for the first time. He is the No. 1 player. I keep saying that and I don't think I will ever change my mind," he added.

Known for his hostile pace and 'White lightening', Donald has a word of advice for international bowlers on how to prepare for the senior batsman.

"You don't analyse Sachin two days before a Test. We always planned months in advance. We knew how highly Indian teams depended on him.

"History will show you that right-arm express pace bowlers have been successful against him. I spoke to Curtly Ambrose before my 1996 trip to India and he told me to never let Sachin leave the first 15 balls," he explained.

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