Beefy's Big Sri Lanka Walk: Sunil Gavaskar praises Sachin Tendulkar

On the long, winding ascent out of Kandy on day four of Sir Ian Botham's Big Sri Lanka Walk, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has ample time to reflect on the career - and assess the imminent retirement - of Sachin Tendulkar.

"With today's split-screen computer technology he'll be instantly able to make out exactly what he needs to work on. "Opening the batting and captaining can be difficult but that is where the coaching and the support staff come in handy and lift some of the responsibility. "Being an opener in some ways makes it easier, though, because you just go straight from the field back into battle - you don't have time to think too much. You keep focusing on the bowler and the ball he's going to bowl to you. "England have a very, very balanced team - they've got an excellent new-ball attack and a world-class bowler in Graeme Swann so they are very well served to bowl on all the different types of pitches Australia will offer. "Taking 20 wickets is the key and I think England can do that. All that they need is for their batsmen - Cook included - to score more runs than the Australians!"

Regard

Gavaskar, now 64, still thrives on a challenge and proved it by tackling the most arduous leg of Beefy's fundraising walk so far - a daunting, undulating 26-mile route from Kandy to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Kegalle town, in Sabaragamuwa Province - to support his friend's fundraising effort. "Beefy is huge in India not only because of what he's achieved in England but because he's had some outstanding match-winning performances in India," he explained. "People in India have the highest regard for him - when he goes on the streets he is mobbed as much as the Indian cricketers are. "I enjoyed playing against him tremendously because you knew you had to be at your best and absolutely alert because he had the ability to produce the unplayable delivery - even when you were past 100! "A lot of people in India pronounce 'Ian' as 'iron', which somehow seems appropriate! However, they also pronounce Botham as 'bottom' - and I know he appreciates that because he's got a great sense of humour!" To donate to the cause visit www.justgiving.com/BeefysSriLankaWalk or for more information visit www.beefysbigsrilankawalk.com Check out a gallery of Beefy's walks here. Check out Beefy's itinerary here. You can follow Botham's progress on Sky Sports News, online with skysports.com and on your iPad. To donate to Beefy's fund-raising effort simply visit www.justgiving.com/BeefysSriLankaWalk