India joins the world in paying tribute to `King among all batsmen'

The tributes to Sir Donald Bradman came from all over the world and India did not lag behind in paying its respects to the greatest run getter in the game's history.

Leading the homage was one who played against him 54 years ago. Vijay Hazare was the vice captain of the first Indian team that toured Australia in 1947-48. His batting came in for a lot of praise from Bradman. On Tuesday, Hazare, 86 next month, said that it was a big shock to hear about Bradman's death as he was a great batsman and a fine human being.

Speaking from Baroda, Hazare said, "I have been fortunate to play against him and it is a personal loss to me. He was the first person to congratulate me after I completed my hundred against his team in Australia. Bradman was also a great administrator and a fine human being off the field too. Personally it was a great experience playing against him," said Hazare. "He also served the Australian Cricket Board as chairman of the selection committee for a long time," he recalled.

In Calcutta, former International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya condoled the death of Bradman saying "his passing away has left a great void in international cricket."

"Sir Donald Bradman was a great soul and a great cricketer. His death has created a void which will be difficult to fill up in another century," Dalmiya said.

Describing the Australian cricketer as a "king among all batsmen," the former ICC president said his astounding records in Test cricket spoke volumes about his skill and class as a batsman.

"One cannot but feel proud for his achievements on the playing field. International cricket has lost the greatest batsman in Test history," he added.

Dalmiya observed that Bradman was not only a great cricketer but also an able administrator who was liked by one and all for his amiable nature.

In a condolence letter to the current ICC President, Malcolm Gray, Dalmiya said "Death is inevitable. But it cannot silence the deeds and the glory of legends like Sir Donald Bradman. It is perhaps uncharacteristic of Sir Don not to complete his century in life. As long as cricket will be played, Sir Don will be remembered with great honour and dignity. He was not just a hero of Australia. His greatness transcended all geographical, political, social, economic and cultural boundaries", he said.

Dalmiya, who is the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) recalled with pride the CAB's association with Sir Don when he had signed certificates for the blood donors in the CAB's Foundation Day programme in 1982.

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said he was shocked to hear about Bradman's death.

Tendulkar, who was one of the few who was invited by the Don for his 90th birthday in Adelaide in 1998, said "it is a very sad day for me. When I met him at Adelaide it was a dream come true for me. Not many had the opportunity to meet him and I was very fortunate to do so. He was a great man and I will never forget that experience for the rest of my life," he added.

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said Bradman was the greatest cricketer the world had ever produced and he was very sorry to hear about his demise. "It is a great loss to Australian cricket in particular and world cricket in general," he added.

The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India Raj Singh Dungarpur said, "we have lost the last batting legend. He was not only a fine batsman but also a very good administrator. His demise is a personal loss to me and to thousands of cricket loving public in India and all over the world,"he added.