<p>“The one he scored in Chennai after the 26/11 attack in Mumbai,” the 33-year-old former England all-rounder told reporters when asked about the best century scored by the champion batsman in Test cricket.<br /><br />“We flew back and it was decided that we will play in Chennai. England were in a great position. And we thought we are going to win the Test match. But Sachin had other ideas. He scored a hundred. I am never good at losing. However, at that instance it was fitting that Sachin, who was from Mumbai, hit the winning runs,” he said.<br /><br />“The best thing is after the game he thanked each and every one of the English players for coming back to India. That was quite a poignant moment for me and rest of the boys,” he said after interacting with aspiring cricketers here at a promotional event.<br /><br />The English team returned home midway through the seven-match one-day series following the three-day terrorist siege of Mumbai, before retuning to India to resume the tour and play in the Test series.<br /><br />Saluting Tendulkar’s longevity in the game, Flintoff wished the batsman many more years of international cricket ahead.<br /><br />“He’s an amazing man and a successful player. To play for as long as he has and to score as many runs as he has is amazing. He is somebody I have come to respect. I remember I had come to play for Lancashire under-13 and he was making his Test debut! He was only four years older than me. But he has been playing since then.<br /><br />“I wanted to get him out. I wanted to impress him, get his respect. Good luck to him. Hope he doesn’t stop at 50 (centuries) and goes on and on and on. He’s been a good ambassador for the game,” he added.<br /><br />On Tendulkar’s comparison with Sir Don Bradman, Flintoff said, “I never played against Bradman. I don’t know. It is wrong in sport to compare heroes. In modern day cricket, Sachin is the best.”</p>
<p>“The one he scored in Chennai after the 26/11 attack in Mumbai,” the 33-year-old former England all-rounder told reporters when asked about the best century scored by the champion batsman in Test cricket.<br /><br />“We flew back and it was decided that we will play in Chennai. England were in a great position. And we thought we are going to win the Test match. But Sachin had other ideas. He scored a hundred. I am never good at losing. However, at that instance it was fitting that Sachin, who was from Mumbai, hit the winning runs,” he said.<br /><br />“The best thing is after the game he thanked each and every one of the English players for coming back to India. That was quite a poignant moment for me and rest of the boys,” he said after interacting with aspiring cricketers here at a promotional event.<br /><br />The English team returned home midway through the seven-match one-day series following the three-day terrorist siege of Mumbai, before retuning to India to resume the tour and play in the Test series.<br /><br />Saluting Tendulkar’s longevity in the game, Flintoff wished the batsman many more years of international cricket ahead.<br /><br />“He’s an amazing man and a successful player. To play for as long as he has and to score as many runs as he has is amazing. He is somebody I have come to respect. I remember I had come to play for Lancashire under-13 and he was making his Test debut! He was only four years older than me. But he has been playing since then.<br /><br />“I wanted to get him out. I wanted to impress him, get his respect. Good luck to him. Hope he doesn’t stop at 50 (centuries) and goes on and on and on. He’s been a good ambassador for the game,” he added.<br /><br />On Tendulkar’s comparison with Sir Don Bradman, Flintoff said, “I never played against Bradman. I don’t know. It is wrong in sport to compare heroes. In modern day cricket, Sachin is the best.”</p>
