'It was almost impossible to upset his composure'
Radio commentator Jim Maxwell on why Tendulkar is so special

Tendulkar was loved in Australia and was a favourite of Bradman's • AFP
In the last 20 years, Tendulkar is up there with Brian Lara, in terms of batsmen who can dominate and intimidate the opposition. Tendulkar is just ahead of Lara because of his longevity, to last over 20-odd years. Overall, he is No. 2 to Bradman.
At the SCG, on India's 2003-04 tour, Australia came up with a tactic under Steve Waugh of bowling a foot outside the off stump, and Tendulkar would still hit them over and through midwicket for four. Then the Chennai Test of 1998 was a delight to describe, because Tendulkar was looking to get after Warne in the first innings and he got caught. In the second innings there was rough outside the leg stump and Warne obviously thought he had a chance of getting him out by bowling into it. Tendulkar clattered him with a dexterous mix of watchfulness and defence and then attack, daring attack - going down and opening up his front foot and hitting Warne out of the rough into the crowd over midwicket for a six.
The straight drive, because there was an effortlessness about it. He just eased on the front foot and did not even hit the ball. It would disappear for four. In Perth in 1992, when he got a century, some of his drives on a true pitch, when he hit through the line, were outstanding.
A story around his cricket, which showed his versatility, his qualities as a good cricketer, was his bowling in the second innings of the 2001 Kolkata Test. In a game where he could not do anything with the bat, he turned up late in the game and helped to bowl Australia out with some very good bowling. He could bowl from the front of the hand, back of the hand, fingerspin - he could bowl everything.
What added to reputation was that Lady Bradman had likened him to the Don. And then he had that meeting with the Don. Since Bradman was the most revered cricketer in Australia, the connection Tendulkar had made made Australians sit back and think, "We have got someone special here." Even though Tendulkar was an opponent, they just enjoyed the virtuosity of his strokeplay and his ability. That is why he was admired.