Former Australia speedster Brett Lee would like to see senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar reaching the unprecedented landmark of 200 Test matches before calling it quits.
"There is a lot of media saying he should move on, he should stand down. (But) I believe if he keeps scoring runs and he keeps batting well, then he should be able to go (out) on his own terms. I think it is only fair," Lee said.
"If a guy has played for over 20 years of international cricket, he deserves the right to play his 200th Test match. Hopefully, he does get his 200th Test match, because I can't see it ever being achieved again," the Aussie said at the Staeta Soy Milky event here today.
Tendulkar, who has retired from one-day cricket but is active in the traditional five-day format and the IPL T20 tournament for Mumbai Indians, has played 198 Tests since his debut in 1989.
The 40-year old cricketer, however, will have to wait till the end of this year to play his next Test, when India are scheduled to tour South Africa from November.
Lee, who is representing Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Pepsi IPL, was all praise for Tendulkar.
"He is a legend. He is a little master with all due respect with 198 Test matches to his credit. He is the most prolific run scorer in the world... I am not trying to say one (Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar) is better than the other, but he certainly is right up there. He has been a hero of mine while growing up."
"He is like a good bottle of red wine that keeps getting better with age. He is a wonderful guy, a great role model around the world. He is loved in Australia. I would love to see him play more but it is upto the great man to say when he wants to hang his boots up," Lee said.
