Sachin Tendulkar is an icon of the game not just for his records but for the respect e has earned over the years. In India, an entire generation started playing cricket looking at his heroics. However, his following isn’t just limited to the country. Recently, Australia legend Brett Lee opened up about his first match against him. Brett Lee wanted to get Sachin’s autograph right away but controlled himself. The Australian pacer holds a record against Sachin Tendulkar, which he would be very proud of. Lee has dismissed Sachin a total of 14 times, which is the highest for any bowler.
The battle between the two has gone on for years, starting in 1999. It was in a three-day practice match that Brett Lee bowled to Sachin for the first time. It was a fanboy moment for him as he has grown up watching Sachin play. Moreover, it got all the way more exciting for Lee as he dismissed Sachin in their first encounter. Lee was motivated to get the ball autographed. However, he decided otherwise, revealing the reason after 23 years. Later, in the Sydney Test, Brett Lee made his Test debut and Sachin smashed a century in the same match.
I Wanted Sachin’s Autograph: Brett Lee
“The first time I met Sachin Tendulkar was way back in 1999. We were in Canberra and I was playing for the Prime Minister’s XI against the touring Indian team. And of course, Sachin Tendulkar was in that game. He came out to bat and I realized I am bowling to the great Sachin Tendulkar. I actually wanted to get his autograph – I thought I’ll give him the ball and say ‘hey mate, could you please sign this?’ But then realized it wouldn’t look good for my first impression against the great Tendulkar.“Â
Brett Lee
