Yet another high for Kumble

600 for Kumble: Anil Kumble exults after dismissing Andrew Symonds (caught at slip by Rahul Dravid) to claim his 600th Test wicket . India bowled out Australia for 212 on the second day of the third Test to gain a 118-run first innings lead. India was 52 for one at stumps.

Chennai: Anil Kumble reached yet another landmark in the third Test at Perth on Thursday.

The champion leg-spinner’s 600th Test wicket was achieved at a critical juncture for India on day two — he prised out Andrew Symonds with a precise leg-break in his 124th Test. Kumble made his debut against England in Manchester in 1990.

The 37-year-old India captain is now only behind spin-mates Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in the tally of Test wickets. Sri Lanka’s Muralitharan has 723 victims in 118 Tests and Australia’s Warne, 708 in 145.

Apart from his bowling skills, the genial Kumble has shown the strength of mind to overcome a major shoulder surgery in 2001. Quicker through the air than a conventional spinner, Kumble hurts the batsmen more with his bounce off the pitch, intensity and accuracy than turn.

While the top-spinner has been his major ally, he has employed the googly particularly well in the present phase.

Subtle variations in pace and clever use of the crease have also fetched him wickets. The relentless Kumble can out-think the batsmen. His achievements reflect discipline and commitment. His outstanding performances include a 10-wicket innings haul against Pakistan in the second Test in New Delhi (1999).

While his spin partnership with Harbhajan Singh has been a success story, the Kumble-Rahul Dravid combination has often struck for India in the Test arena. When Dravid held the catch to send back Symonds, it was his 54th dismissal in tandem with Kumble.

News Source : Samachar