Kumble announces retirement from one-dayers

Anil Kumble, with his son Mayas, at the announcement of his retirement from ODIs made in Bangalore © AFP Enlarge

Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from one-day cricket but said that he will be available for Test matches.

"It's been a long, 17-year journey at the international level," Kumble told reporters during a press conference in Bangalore. "Hopefully I will finish my Test career on a brighter note."

Kumble took 337 wickets at 30.89 in 271 one-dayers . His last game was against Bermuda at the World Cup where he took 3 for 38 in India's 257-run win.

"One-day cricket is not a bowler's game, so I was always grateful when any wicket came my way," he said. Kumble, 36, made his one-day debut in 1990 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah.

Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain, acknowledged Kumble as one of India's greatest cricketers. "What Anil has performed for India over the last decade and a half has been legendary," Dravid said. Kapil Dev, the former Indian captain, said that Kumble had gone further than anybody could have imagined. "I never thought he had so much ability, but with time and determination he went beyond anybody's imagination."

The Indians, who were knocked out in the first round after losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in group B of the preliminary league, returned home on Thursday. "I wanted to go out on a high after the World Cup, but that obviously did not happen," said Kumble.

Kumble is renowned for taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999, only the second bowler to achieve the feat after Englishman Jim Laker. His best one-day performance was 6 for 12 against West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the Hero Cup tournament in 1993.