Shane Warne Was Extremely Good At "Playing Mind Games": Sachin Tendulkar

Calling Shane Warne a "fierce competitor" against whom he always had to prepare differently, Sachin Tendulkar says as the Australian spin legend was good at playing mind games and gave nothing away from his body language. One of the all-time greats of the game, Warne died at the age of 52 due to a suspected heart attack in Thailand on March 4. A state memorial service has been scheduled at the MCG on Wednesday. "My first proper series against Shane Warne was in 1998 in India and everyone tagged that series as Tendulkar versus Shane Warne clash. That kind of following is going to put you under pressure," said Tendulkar.

"When you are playing a world class bowler like him, you just can't turn up and hope that things are going to be okay.

"So I had to prepare properly, not just out being there at the nets but when you're sitting in the room, you have to be a step ahead of him, what he would be thinking because he was extremely good in putting pressure and playing mind games and trying to plan your dismissal." Tendulkar had many fierce battles with Warne and the 1998 series in India will remain a part of cricketing folklore.

"It didn't matter, you looked at his body language. One didn't know whether Warne had picked up four wickets, five wickets or he was bowling wicketless. Every delivery that he bowled, he was a fierce competitor.

"So even if you're facing the second last over of the day, one had to keep their eyes open, because he was always up to something and trying to figure out how could he dismissed."

West Indies batting great Brain Lara also hailed Warne as the "most potent player", who sealed his place "in the upper echelons of world cricket" with his performances in the Ashes series, which included the ball of the