I Wanted Sachin Tendulkar's Autograph, But I Knew It Wouldn't Look Good On My First Impression - Brett Lee

Brett Lee, a former Australian legend, described his fanboy experiences when he wanted Sachin Tendulkar to sign an autograph for him. He, on the other hand, opted against it and stated why.

Sachin Tendulkar was not just the greatest batsman of his generation, but also one of cricket’s most admired players.]

Tendulkar’s clashes with legends of the game including Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Allan Donald, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Shoaib Akhtar. Legends like James Anderson and others abound, but one bowler owns a record that none of them can match.

Tendulkar has been dismissed 14 times in international cricket by former Australia pacer Brett Lee, the most by any bowler. The clashes between Lee and Tendulkar have been numerous, and Sachin struck a century on Brett’s Test debut for Australia in the Sydney Test in 1999. Lee did get the chance to bowl to Tendulkar for the first time in a three-day practice game ahead of the three-Test series.

‘I realized I was bowling to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as he came out to bat’: Brett Lee

It was a fanboy experience for Lee, who asked Tendulkar to sign an autograph for him; nevertheless, Lee declined, and here’s why.

“Sachin Tendulkar was the first person I met in 1999. I was competing for the Prime Minister’s XI against a visiting Indian team in Canberra. Sachin Tendulkar, of course, was in the game. I realized I was bowling to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as he walked out to bat.”

“I was hoping to acquire his autograph, so I handed him the ball and asked, “Hey mate, could you please sign this?” But then I realized that making a solid first impression against Tendulkar would be difficult,” Lee stated.

Lee’s ambition of bowling to Tendulkar became much sweeter when he managed to get Sachin out in that match. It was the icing on the cake for Lee, and the start of a 13-year fight between him and Tendulkar that would be witnessed by the entire world.

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