India’s fast bowling coach Joe Dawes has described cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as still having a god-like status among his teammates and cricket fans.
The former Australian cricketer, who has been a constant companion to Tendulkar for the past nine months, said that Tendulkar’s teammates copied his every little gesture, even carrying their bats with them on the team bus like the Little Master, News.com.au reported.
Dawes joked that this attitude reached the point when he had to tell the tail-end batsmen they are never going to survive as international batsmen unless they bring their bat on the bus.
Following rumours that the upcoming four-Test series against Australia will be Tendulkar’s swansong, Dawes said that Tendulkar would probably be feeling the pressure, but it has not decreased his work ethic.
Dawes also said that despite Tendulkar’s age, the Little Master still pays great attention to detail and an eye for perfection, which was evident during his practice sessions.
The bowling coach added that Tendulkar’s presence in the dressing room gives a boost to his teammates’ spirits. Tendulkar, 39, has not hit a Test century for more than two years going into the four-Test home series against Australia.
Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
