'Bradman selected Sachin as someone nearest to him'

SYDNEY, AUG. 14. Sachin Tendulkar's inclusion in the `dream team' was because of the fact that Sir Donald Bradman considered him the closest to himself in technique and temperament, according to the author of Bradman's best Roland Perry.

``It is known that Bradman had said Sachin's shot production, style and compactness were closest to him. Sir Don, being pragmatic, selected Sachin as someone nearest to him in the modern era,'' Perry told PTI in an interview.

``Both players had mutual friendship and respect for each other. Bradman had great respect for the character of Sachin Tendulkar,'' he said.

``My own observation is that Sachin has more oriental flair and he hits the ball high whereas Bradman's shots were more along the ground,'' Perry, who has chronicled all the 12 members of the `dream team' in his book, said.

``Their grips were different. Sachin's cover drives are more noticeable and elegant than Bradman's though the effect of both was the same. They were both big occasion players, pulling out the best under pressure and men of great humility,'' said Perry who revealed he had thoroughly enjoyed writing the book. ``It was like writing 12 mini biographies where one had to get to the heart of the matter and performance of each player,'' he said.

Bradman followed other players' performance keenly and his vision of cricket spanned the entire 20th century, Perry said. ``He was watching cricket with a keen eye for 80 years, keeping abreast with players in all cricket-playing nations by watching them on global TV channels.''

The book was launched in Sydney and London simultaneously on Monday. Sir Arthur Morris, a long-time friend of Bradman who was present at the launch, said being included in the `dream team' was his greatest achievement.

``It is a great honour and the greatest accolade of my career to be included in Bradman's `dream team,''' he said.

Also present at the launch was Richard Mulvaney, director of Bradman Museum Trust in Bowral. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Bradman Memorial Fund.

- PTI

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