Tendulkar praises retiring Australia pacer Johnson

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on retiring Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson on Tuesday.

Johnson announced he will retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand that concludes in Perth on Tuesday.

The left-arm pacer, who is his country's fourth highest Test wicket-taker, informed his teammates of his decision on Monday night, saying that after 73 Tests he felt it was the right time to walk away from the game.

Tendulkar, who played alongside Johnson during the pacer's stint at Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), termed the 34-year-old bowler as someone special.

"Good luck to Johnson who has always been a special bowler. Got to know him well at Mumbai Indians and enjoyed his aggressive approach!" Tendulkar tweeted on Tuesday.

Johnson enters the final day of the Test on 311 Test wickets and is behind Dennis Lillee (355), Glenn McGrath (563) and Shane Warne (708) on the list of Australia's greatest wicket-takers.

"I feel now is the best time to say goodbye," Johnson said in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement.

"I have been lucky enough to have had a wonderful career and enjoyed every moment of playing for my country. It's been an incredible ride. But the ride has to come to an end at some point and to do so here at the WACA is very special," the left-armer added.