When I think of Anil Kumble, the first image that comes to mind is one of a tall lanky man with a heavily strapped broken-jaw walking out to bowl for his team.
Kumble bowls with broken jaw. Pic: Hindu
What a man! What commitment! After being heavily criticized for things like being able to spin the ball, not being as effective overseas and such, this very man has achieved many great deeds and has perhaps won India more Tests than any other bowler. His illustrious deeds are crowned by “the perfect 10” wickets in an innings, being only the second, after Australia’s Jim Laker, to achieve that feat.
Today, at the WACA, on a pitch that was said to be a pacer’s dream, on a day when the honors clearly belonged to India, Jumbo persevered with his typical line-and-length to bag his 600th and became the first Indian to enter the elite over-600 club along with Muralitharan and Warne.
Kumble gets 600! Pic: Cricinfo
Coincidentally, his fellow Karnataka-mate Dravid took the catch to dismiss Symonds to break a potentially dangerous partnership and become a part of this historical moment for Kumble and India.
Dravid with the catch. Pic: Cricinfo
I thought it was really apt it was Dravid who took the catch as many the duo have a combined tally of 54 victims. Incidentally, today Dravid becomes one with the 3rd highest number of catches at 165, going past Brian Lara’s 164.
Congrats to you, Captain Kumble. Wishing you 100 more very soon!
Thanks for this post; referred to the same through the “Kumble with Broken Jaw” pic in my post today (the 38th b’day of Kumble).
Thanks, Srinivas for stopping by.