Gavaskar withstood us all, says Andy Roberts

"I think that Andy is the finest fast bowler I have ever faced."

This is what Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his best-selling book Idols which was released in the 1983-84 season. High praise indeed considering Gavaskar, who will receive the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI today, faced a great array of fast bowlers in hisu00a016-year international career.

Roberts returned the compliment yesterday when he told MiD DAY from Antigua that the Indian batting legend was, "the greatest batsman to come
out of India."

Roberts (62) continued: "Sunny played against all great fast bowlers. Now, this was arguably the greatest bunch of fast bowlers in the history
of cricket.

"I don't only refer to the West Indians. Australia had Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee; England had John Snow, Bob Willis and Ian Botham; Pakistan had Imran Khan and New Zealand had Richard Hadlee. These men were difficult to score runs off. Sunny withstood all of us and the greatest compliment must be paid to him.

"Congratulations Sunny. You deserve this honour."