Steve Waugh: The last time I met him was 12 months ago, and I was
glad to see him looking very happy. He had his views
on cricket and while he was in general pretty pleased
with the way the game was going, he had some reservations
as well. It was great to have met him one on one.
His death is an important
wake-up call for all those who play cricket, it is
definitely sad, but from his death we must understand
that we have to play the game for the right reasons
and to look to the future of the game rather than
to their own needs. That has been the reason for the
downfall of the game over the last couple of years.
I haven't really thought
this true, but when it comes to whether we should
play the Test starting tomorrow, I am sure the Don
would want the game to go on and by playing cricket
we are showing him necessary respect, and I am sure
that is what his family wants, too.
Given how amazing his
stats are, it is difficult to put into context his
achievement, it is difficult to quantify the legacy
of a man who averaged 99, given that the next best
average is 60+, you can only say that he was a once
in a lifetime player. His contribution off the field
is significant as well. Don was an Australian, and
we can all draw inspiration from the fact that the
world's greatest cricketer was an Australian. All
he ever wanted was to be an average person, a normal
person -- but in context of what he had achieved,
that was always going to be impossible.
Sachin Tendulkar: He was a great player, but more than the runs he scored,
the way he played the game is important. Unfortunately,
I never got to see him play, I had however heard so
much about him. When I finally got to meet him and
to spend time with him, it was an honour and privilege
and it remains a cherished memory.
Justin Langer: A note was left under my door this morning, with the
unfortunate news. This is a very sad day for me and
for every Australian and, for that matter, for every
cricketer and cricket lover.
There has never been
any other Australian who has left an impact of this
magnitude on the world. It is not just about cricket
-- the Don brought all of Australia together. His
cricketing feats were absolutely incredible, more
incredible than anyone else ever. While he won't be
there physically any more, he will always be with
us Australians spiritually, as he will be with every
cricketer all over the world.
I am sure he is in a
happy place right now. I met him a couple of years
ago and it was an experience I will cherish forever.
I had always dreamt of writing to him, but for some
reason or the other I never did. Finally, six years
ago, while I was a young hopeful at our cricket academy,
I summoned up the nerve to write to him, asking him
for advice about my game. Within two days, I got a
reply -- and that to me was incredible, it was a mark
of the real greatness of the man that even at that
age, he could find the heart, the energy to write
to a young cricketer he had never heard of. That memory,
that note, will remain my most cherished possession.
Shane Warne: It is a very sad day for everyone, he was an icon
for both Aaustralian and world cricket. Sachin and
I met him on his 90th birthday -- we were very nervous
initially, we both got a couple of hours with him
and I will cherish that time forever. I woke up to
the news this morning -- his death is the inspiration,
the motivation we need to do well in the first Test,
as a tribute to his memory.
Kim Hughes: Like
everyone else who loves cricket, I feel immeasurably
saddened. He was the last of the great heroes -- his
passing away makes this a day of mourning. He was
92 and not keeping good health. I was fortunate to
be invited to his place when I was leading Australia,
and to have a chat with him on leadership. I think
the meeting was private, so I would prefer not to
discuss what he said. I haven't met him in recent
times, because he doesn't meet people, but the memories
remain, as they will remain in the minds of every
cricket lover.
Javagal Srinath: The Don was cricket's crowning jewel. Losing him makes
the game that much poorer.
David Shepherd (ICC
umpire and former England international): It is
a sad loss, for the game and all of us who play or
watch it. He was a wonderful player, but even more,
he was a great ambassador for the game.
