If a discussion takes place regarding the greatest cricketers to ever be born in the world, then names of both Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara would appear naturally amongst cricket fans. The duo is regarded as the celebutante and two of the most successful batsmen of all-time.
One wouldn’t be wrong to claim that both Sachin and Lara smashed thousands of runs for their respective countries and played numerous match-winning knocks in their careers. The outstanding pair was a nightmare for the bowlers in their times. In fact, they faced some of the best bowlers the cricketing world has ever seen.
But, who was the most challenging batsmen between the two? Well, former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie has the answer. Gillespie, who grabbed 401 wickets in 71 Tests and 97 ODIs, has picked the toughest batsmen between Sachin and Lara. The Sydney-born pacer went with India’s icon Sachin and hailed him as the most challenging batsmen as compared to Lara.
“Two different types of players, two equally difficult to get out. I always felt Sachin was probably a little bit harder to dislodge, in terms of getting his wicket, but I didn’t feel he would take you apart, in quite the same way as Brian,” Gillespie said on a YouTube show naming Cow Corner Chronicles.
Gillespie revealed that he felt he could get Lara out but to break into Sachin’s defence was way more challenging.
“I always felt I was in with more of a chance to get Brian out because he was a bit more expansive, with his game. But I found Sachin’s defence was very hard to get through,” the 45-year-old added.
Gillespie expressed a bit of relief too as he doesn’t have to bowl against the two top-quality batsmen any more. He said that bowling against these greatest batsmen was an honour.
“Look two fine players; I am just really glad that I don’t have to bowl to them anymore. They were just far too good. It was actually for me personally was quite an honour, for all those names that I just mentioned.”
“It’s quite an honour for me to be able to sit here and talk to you and say that I bowled against these guys,” the New South Wales cricketer added further.
Gillespie also stated that it was satisfying for him to play against the best batsmen in the world.
“It was a wonderful time to be a cricketer and got to bowl against the best in the world. For me, that was very satisfying,” concluded Gillespie.
