 17 January 2008
Anil Kumble has become the third bowler in history of the game to claim 600 or more test match wickets. Kumble achieved the feat when Andrew Symonds was caught at slips after deflection of Dhoni gloves balloned the ball for a simple catch. Umpire Asad Rauf looked like giving the batsmen the opportunity to walk and when he did not moved raised his finger and Indian camp jumped in joy. The wicket was also special from the fact that it came at crucial stage when Australia were seen getting back into the game after being 5 wickets down for 62 runs.
Adam Gilchrist who was at the non striker end congratulated Kumble and Kumble in reply said that he wanted Gilchrist to be his 600th victim rather than Symonds. Gilchrist has been supporter of Kumble and also called up to congratulate Kumble when he had taken 500 test match wickets.
This is a great achievement for a bowler who was never given the same recognition as his other counterparts when he had the same pedigree as the other two spinners who are above 700 test wickets mark. It is also remarkable that Kumble has matured into a very good test match bowler when everyone thaught his career was over after the shoulder injury and string of poor performances in 2003 the same time when Harbhajan SIngh was bowling at his peak.
"Jumbo" as he is called by his teammates is enjoying his best days in cricket as he recently became the captain of Indian Test side and also was the only batsmen to score a century on the tour of England in which India won the Test series after 26 years. |
