There are some who excel only under challenges. Indian captain Anil Kumble,who became the first Indian bowler and the third in the world to reach the milestone of 600 wickets in the third cricket Test against Australia,is certainly one of those.
Kumble achieved the milestone in his 124th match when he had Andrew Symonds caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip just after tea break on the second day of the third cricket Test against Australia atWACA.
Symonds edged the ball which hit Dhoni's gloves and went up in the air before Dravid pouched it safely. The Australian middle order batsman stood his ground while umpire Asad Rauf took some time to raise his finger even as the appeal grew louder.And then it was celebration time. Adam Gilchrist was around to shake hands withthe Indian captain
Advertisement
Kumble's 600 wickets came in 124 matches at an average of 28.68. Only Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (723) and Shane Warne (708) of Australiahave taken as many tickets ahead of him. Kumble's maximum number of wickets arealso against Australia: 104 in 17 matches at an average of 27.50
"You don't think of such a landmark when you start, but it is a big number. I never dreamt of reaching here," Kumble said after the second day's play at WACA.
But the 37-year-old Indian captain pointed out that many felt he would not be able to make it this big in his career.And that it felt good to prove his critics wrong.
"Not many people thought I would (be able to do this) but I knew I was capable ofthis achievement," he said, adding that he was motivated to prove his critics wrong and criticism spurred him to strive for better results.
"Right through my career, there have been a lot of criticism, critics who egg you on to go out and prove yourself," said a visibly happy Kumble after the second day's play at WACA.
"Whenever I was out of the team, there was something for me to get better," he added. He said it didn't matter that compared to other spinners, he was called anon-spinning medium-pacer or just an "unconventional spin bowler" during his career:"What is important for a bowler is to put doubts in the mind of the batsmen, something which I have been able to do for all these years.
"It doesn't matter whether you bowl bouncers, swing it, spin or bowl it with pace. The important thing is to create doubts in the mind of a batsman."
Fittingly, Kumble's 600th wicket came off a catch by his fellow Karnataka mate,former captain Rahul Dravid, who has taken the most catches -- 56 -- off his bowling. Also at hand was Adam Gilchrist, the not out batsman for Australia, at the crease.
"He (Gilchrist) had called me up from Bangladesh when I took my 500 Test wicket and today, at the end of the day, I jokingly told him it would have been great if he was my 600th victim," he said.
Kumble, when he started his career as a 13-year-old, was given only three balls to bowl by the selectors but he does not look back at it with any regret orrancour. "The kind of selection we have back home, when you're a 13 or 14-year-old, there are 1000 kids to show their talent."
Kumble has picked up 220 wickets in the last four years and put it down to his experience of bowling in different conditions.
"I probably am more relaxed and the experience I have had of bowling in different conditions, has been a help", hepoints out.
And it is perhaps more than fitting that after the debacle at Sydney, Indianbowling had the Aussies on the mat when Kumble achieved his feet. Wouldn't it bewonderful to go on to win this Test? He cautions that there is still a lot of cricket left in the game."It's important that we play good cricket. We have done so in the last two days and if we can carry the momentum tomorrow, we have a great chance (of winning the Test).I am really proud of my seamers. If you look at the experience we have had, we have really held up together very well.
"We came close to picking up Australia cheaply in Sydney on the first day. I am proud we have learnt where we left off.RP, at such a young age, is leading the attack well. Irfan and Ishant supported himbrilliantly.".
For now, he hopes that Virender Sehwag would lead the way for India on the third day."He's that sort of a batsman. He goes out and plays his game. If he stays there for a session or more, we would be in the driver's seat."
