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Anil Kumble      

India

Full name Anil Kumble

Born October 17, 1970, Bangalore, Karnataka

Current age 42 years 218 days

Major teams India, Asia XI, Karnataka, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Surrey

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Legbreak googly

Anil Kumble
Best Performances
    A crowd widely estimated as close to 100,000 watches with delight as West Indies' batting collapses in the final of the Hero Cup. From 57 for 1 they lose nine wickets for 66, and are all out with nearly 10 overs remaining; Kumble takes the last six for four runs in 26 balls. His full figures of 6 for 12 are the best for India in one-day internationals. One of his victims, Roland Holder, notches up the dubious first of being given out bowled by a TV umpire.
    Kumble's first 10-wicket haul, in his 14th Test. Eleven wickets in the match, replete with his second-innings seven-wicket haul, give India a thumping win over Sri Lanka in Lucknow, and Kumble, 23, his first Man-of-the-Match award. Bounding in, shoulders arched and eyes ablaze with intent, Kumble is a sight to behold on the third and fourth days, sending down over after over of fizzing, ripping legspin that utterly confounds the hapless Sri Lankans. Four vital scalps in the first innings force the tourists to follow on, only for Kumble to relentlessly continue his mastery - despite a bleeding nose and heat exhaustion - on the fourth day.
    A target of 256 for New Zealand in the Wellington ODI briefly looks attainable as Shane Thomson and Adam Parore put on 85 for the sixth wicket. Thomson reaches 50 in 51 balls but Kumble has him stumped, and bowls Parore, and 28 off the last two overs is too much for the tail. Earlier, Kumble removes both Chris Harris and Blair Hartland, after they put on 60 for the second wicket, and finishes with 5 for 33.
    Kumble's finest moment on the cricket field, becoming only the second bowler, after Jim Laker, to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, claiming 10 for 74 in the second innings against Pakistan in Delhi. Strikes decisively to dismiss Shahid Afridi and Ijaz Ahmed off successive deliveries after Pakistan, chasing a record 420 for victory, begin with a century partnership. Wasim Akram, the second man in the innings to survive a hat-trick ball, becomes Kumble's 10th victim by pushing a catch to short leg. History is made, and India gain their first Test win over Pakistan for 19 years. Modest as ever, Kumble jokes in an on-air interview following the incredible achievement: "As a bowler, everybody dreams of getting 10 wickets. My mum, whenever I go to see her, says 'Get a hat-trick, get a hat-trick', the next time it will be 'Get 10 wickets'."
    When he traps Matthew Horne, New Zealand's opener, leg-before in the second innings of the
    Kumble, often derided for being ineffective in away Tests, takes 7 for 159 in the third Test against England at Headingley, as India win by an innings and 46 runs. In a fine fifth-day spell, Kumble provides the killer blows, removing Alec Stewart and century-maker Nasser Hussain, as India snuff out England's dream of a miracle escape and complete a series-leveling win. This performance comes as a forceful reminder to his critics as Kumble, who goes past Allan Donald's tally of 330 wickets, proves that he can win India matches abroad.
    An excellent spell in the Adelaide Test demonstrates again that he can be as potent a strike bowler overseas at as home. After getting just 1 for 116 from 28 overs on the first day Kumble, after a chat with Terry Jenner, picks up four wickets on the second to bowl Australia out for 556 after they are 400 for 5 at stumps. Australia seem set for at least 600 until Kumble has Ricky Ponting caught at slip for 242. He then follows up with the last two wickets in the same over. Famously, India win the Test by four wickets.
    Six wickets on the final day in Kolkata script a splendid 195-run win over archrivals Pakistan, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series. Despite a belligerent onslaught from Shahid Afridi that propels Pakistan to an ominous start, Kumble holds his nerve to dismiss him just before stumps on day four, and returns the following day to skittle the tourists out for 226. Stands tall with 10 in the match, his 7 for 63 being the standout bowling performance of the match. Once again, Kumble proves that at home there is no greater match-winner.
    Kumble walks out with India 417 for 6 in the final Test, but the match isn't quite safe yet. A series is up for grabs, and Kumble bats supremely. He plays his part in rotating the strike with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and when increasingly tired bowlers serve up half-volleys and wide balls he crashes them to the ropes. He adds crucial partnerships with every tail-end batsman, and eventually reaches a maiden Test hundred with an inside-edge to fine leg. The relief and exhilaration are palpable. To a man the Indian team - already crowding the balcony - rose to their feet, celebrating Kumble's moment. It was one of cricket's romantic moments, a popular hero achieving a milestone that has evaded him in a 17-year-old career.
    India, in their Test history, have had only a few good first days when on tour. This one at the MCG will rank right up with those few. After Australia have run away in the first session to try and attempt a similar script for India, Kumble takes control with a typical show. He first breaks the 135-run opening stand by getting Phil Jaques stumped, and next up are three batsmen who have made a living out of crushing bowling side's false hopes with big innings from any point of the game: Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds. With Brett Lee's wicket towards the end of the day, Kumble becomes only the second spinner to take a five-for on the first day of a Melbourne Test. It is a different matter altogether that the Indian batting capitulates twice, but not before Kumble has set the tone for India to follow later in the famous series.
Country Fixtures Country Results
Qualifier 2: Mum Indians v Royals at Kolkata
May 24, 2013 (20:00 local | 14:30 GMT | 10:30 EDT | 09:30 CDT | 07:30 PDT)
Final: Super Kings v TBA at Kolkata
May 26, 2013 (20:00 local | 14:30 GMT | 10:30 EDT | 09:30 CDT | 07:30 PDT)
India v Sri Lanka at Birmingham
Jun 1, 2013 (10:30 local | 09:30 GMT | 05:30 EDT | 04:30 CDT | 02:30 PDT)
Australia v India at Cardiff
Jun 4, 2013 (10:30 local | 09:30 GMT | 05:30 EDT | 04:30 CDT | 02:30 PDT)
1st Match, Group B: India v South Africa at Cardiff
Jun 6, 2013 (10:30 local | 09:30 GMT | 05:30 EDT | 04:30 CDT | 02:30 PDT)
Complete fixtures » | Download Fixtures »
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