Chennai: Yesteryears pace bowler and now coach Dennis Lille on Monday spoke about his first meeting with Sachin Tendulkar and in a lighter vein said that he did the game of cricket a ‘favour’ by denying the champion batsman an entry into the MRF Pace Foundation. His decision to not let the batting maestro join the bowling academy indeed turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Sachin went on to become the World greatest batsman.

Tendulkar went to the MRF Pace Foundation in 1987 hoping to become a fast bowler but Lillee advised him not to join the academy and concentrate on his batting.

"I think I did him and the game of cricket a favour. I am just joking, but I will never forget the incident," said Lillee.

Recalling one more incident, Lille said that a year later when he saw Sachin in the nets, he could not recognize him.

"When he came back a year later I was there behind the nets. The first ball Sachin faced he hit it behind the bowler for a four. Sachin flicked the next ball for a four as well. The bowlers were not able to get Sachin and he was hitting them out of the park,” said Lillee.

"When he was still batting with about 48 runs or so from 12 balls, I asked T A Sekar (the then head coach) who is this boy. Sekar replied that he is the boy whom you rejected when he wanted to become a fast bowler," he added.

By Indian Sports News Network