Kumble - The Culmination

Who would have ever imagined a leg spinner who bowled without flight and drift? Who would have ever imagined a leg spinner playing 18 years of test cricket without turning the ball a long way? Nobody, until a certain Anil Kumble came onto the scene. His unorthodox approach to spin bowling seemed ridiculous until the results were seen.

Laborious and relentless are two words that can very easily be associated with the workhorse Anil Kumble. There were only a few who really gave him a chance in his early years, when he was called for chucking in a local match and switched to leg spin from medium pace. The large number who had no faith in Kumble have been proved grossly wrong by the small matter of 619 test wickets.

What will be remembered about Kumble outside all his achievements is the integrity and decency he has maintained throughout his career both on and off the field. Even the most thorough investigation of Kumble will not reveal any incidents of misbehaviour, any controversy or even suspicion of anything such.

His bowling may not have been attractive or aesthetically pleasing in the manner of most leggies but it certainly compensated for that with its effectiveness. Jumbo has done so much over the past few years that his absence in the future will be a void not just for his team mates, but for the millions of cricket enthusiasts around the world. Thanks for the memories mate.-BS