IF ANYONE knows what it's like to be a small man with a bat facing up to the world's fiercest fast bowlers, it's India's Little Master Sachin Tendulkar. So it came as no surprise that Tendulkar immediately hit it off with Australia's own little man, Phillip Hughes, when the pair met over a casual lunch in India earlier this month.
But what was discussed will forever remain a mystery, except to the pair and a handful of security guards at a plush hotel in Mumbai.
Hughes, 20, who joined his NSW teammates for the first time yesterday since his sudden Ashes axing, gave nothing away to The Daily Telegraph about his two-hour chat with the world's most prolific Test run-scorer.
Hughes wasn't commenting about pointers, batting tips or training advice.
According to Hughes, with a straight face, the short ball the English bowlers successfully adopted during the Ashes did not come up. Batting slumps also failed to rate.
"I don't think Sachin has ever had one,'' Hughes quipped.
The NSW opener was polite, but insistent on keeping the crux of his pow-wow with Tendulkar extremely hush-hush.
"The first thing I did say to him was, 'I think I've got you covered height-wise', and that hasn't happened too often,'' said Hughes, who stands at 170cm compared with 165cm Tendulkar.
"Sachin had just finished a gym session and we basically had a casual conversation over lunch and coffee.
"We did speak about a couple of things, but I won't let on too much.
"I had questions for him, and he had a few questions for me, mainly about my family. I do know I felt refreshed after meeting him. I grew up watching him on TV and it will be one meeting I never forget.''
Hughes was shown the door by selectors after the second Test at Lord's, despite starring on debut in South Africa a few months earlier.
The left-hander is determined to force his way back into Australia's starting XI as early as this summer.
He said the one thing the meeting with Tendulkar - the 159-Test veteran who has amassed nearly 12,800 runs - did do was help ease the disappointment of his Ashes exit.
Hughes is keen to perform well for NSW, including at next month's Twenty20 Champions League in India, where he will join forces at the top of the order with big-hitting youngster David Warner.
Hughes' Blues coach Matt Mott praised the youngster for seeking out Tendulkar. "Any time you can pick the brains of a great player, especially if they're a Test player, it's got to be a great opportunity,'' Mott said.
"We were fortunate enough to have Steve Waugh come in and speak to the [NSW] players last week and you could tell by their questions they were genuinely excited to pick the brains of a great.
"I thought it was a great initiative to go and see Tendulkar, and the fact he gave up his time is great for Phil and I'm sure he'll take a lot out of that.''
Mott said he had spoken to national selectors and Hughes was still in their short-term sights.
"Phil is only 20 years old, most blokes haven't debuted until 24 or 25, and he has showed he can do it at that level, so I'm sure he will be frustrated if he's not back in there sooner rather than later,'' Mott said.
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