Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday said it was a great honour for him to be included in Richie Benaud's first eleven of the 20th century since the former Australian captain had been associated with the game for over 50 years and had seen most of the cricketers in action.
"It's a great honour to have been selected in his eleven of the 20th century and it's a great feeling, simply because he has seen most of the cricketers in action," said Tendulkar as India readied to fly off to England for the NatWest Challenge and Champions Trophy after a flop show in the triseries in Amsterdam.
The acknowledgement from possibly the game's most endearing and enduring personality is another high for the Indian batting maestro who has been laid low by an elbow injury and had to miss India's engagements in this Dutch city.
The 'tennis elbow' has also raised a question mark about his participation in England.
"It is obviously disappointing to miss out but injury is a part and parcel of a cricketer's life. Nobody likes to get injured but all the same you want your team to do well," said Tendulkar.
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"At number three is a batsman I have only watched in video cassettes. At number five is a batsman whom I have long admired since my childhood," he said.
Tendulkar also did not miss out on mentioning the selection of Sunil Gavaskar as an opener in Benaud's list.
"Obviously this list has a number of players who are very big names in world of cricket and whose exploits I followed and heard about as I was coming up."
Tendulkar also offered his respect for Shane Warne who has been selected as the only slow bowler in Benaud's eleven.
"He has been an extremely effective bowler and played a significant role for his team during his career."
Besides these two Indians, the only name figuring from the sub-continent is that of Imran Khan of Pakistan.
"He was the captain of the Pakistan team when I first played international cricket. I grew up hearing about him and later, also played against him. It is special to be in the same side as him," he said.
Tendulkar has great admiration for Benaud even though there have not been many personal interactions with one of the greatest captains and commentators of the game that he could recall.
"There are no particular interactions I remember except the one in Sharjah a few years ago. He came up to me and said I should look at my bowling and bowl more leg-spinners," said Tendulkar.
Looking ahead, he was not willing to commit whether he would be back in action for the NatWest Challenge against the hosts in England on September 1, 3 and 5.
"Let's wait and see. I can't say anything at this stage. We (physio Andrew Leipus and I) have been seeing a doctor, but to say anything at this stage will be premature," he said.
