Donald doesn't quite know where to begin when it comes to describing Tendulkar's greatness. He is just sure that he's not seen the last of the man's best batting either. "Knowing him, he'll try and make it special in a way he knows best," he says.
Donald has had raging battles with Tendulkar during his playing days, most famously at Durban in 1996 when he sent the batsman's stumps flying with a brilliant inswinger. He also seldom stepped back when it came to staring the batsman in the eye.
"It was over that time I learnt you don't sledge a Tendulkar or a Steve Waugh," he says. "Having words with them only makes them better."
The former fast bowler cites the example of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath and their battles with Tendulkar that followed. "The Australians were always at it, and he was at his best against them," he says.
Donald can understand the mass hysteria that presently surrounds Tendulkar's retirement. "The cricket world is likely to take a break from whatever they're doing to watch him bat just one last time," he says.
Adding on Tendulkar the batsman, Donald says that what made Tendulkar most special was the precision with which he planned his game and innings. "He gave little margin for error and that was because he worked on his game every time there was a battle ahead of him. And after all the work that he would put in, he would never be over-awed by the atmosphere around him. Show me a batsman with a better balance when at the crease," he says.
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