With Border Gavaskar Trophy series just a day away, the cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar opened up on his lessons and preparations for his maiden tour of Australia in 1991-1992.
Recalling an incident involving former Australian captain Allan Border while playing in Perth, Master Blaster said that he learnt a ‘big’ lesson from him.
“I was playing in Perth and I played a back foot defence. The fielders were standing far from me and we were not taking singles because bowler was on his follow-through. I saw Allan Border running to get the ball and I thought of just picking the ball and giving it to the senior player (Border). But he said, “don’t you touch the ball’. That was a big lesson for me. Then I thought that whenever I play a dead defence let them come and pick the ball,” Sachin Tendulkar revealed in an interview with India Today.
Tendulkar, further speaking on his preparations for his maiden Australia tour in 1991-92, the 47-year-old said that he was “mentally prepared” for the series Down Under ever since his debut Test against Pakistan in 1989.
I Was Practising With a Rubber Ball on a Wet Surface: Sachin Tendulkar
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, also revealed how he prepared with a rubber ball on wet concrete surfaces ahead of his first tour Down Under.
“Before going to Australia I was practising with a rubber ball on a wet surface, a concrete surface. So those wet rubber balls will really take off and they would go at a reasonable pace. I would ask my friends to even throw from 70 yards, they were supposed to hit me and those were the sessions I felt was a little out of the box because you do normal things in the nets.
I was Mentally Prepared For Pakistan & New Zealand: Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar, known for his records in international cricket further added that sledges from Pakistan and New Zealand players had already made him mentally strong.
“I was prepared to do whatever gave me satisfaction, enjoyment and simultaneously I was preparing and learning to deal with different things. When it comes to Australia everyone talks about how steep the bounce is, how hard the surfaces are, so I had to prepare myself for that but I would say I was mentally prepared right from Pakistan to New Zealand (series’).
When John Wright became our coach I used to teasingly tell him that, ‘You sledged me when I came in to bat’. Schoolkid comes out to bat and all those things and that started from Pakistan did not stop. When I went to Australia I knew that players are going to say something but then you choose to ignore and when you want to respond you respond. I learnt that from that tour,” Sachin Tendulkar concluded.
The most anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy series is scheduled to start from December 17 with a day-night match in Adelaide. These words will surely boost the confidence of the visitors and will encourage them to give their best in the upcoming clash.
