Indian press showers praise on Kumble (9 February 1999)

9 February 1999

Indian press showers praise on Kumble

By Our Special Representative

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The local newspapers showered praise on Anil Kumble after his superlative bowling performance handed Pakistan a 212-run defeat in the second and final cricket Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday.

'Kumble's 10 demolishes Pakistan' screamed The Statesman in its lead story while The Hindustistan Times main story was under the caption 'Pak knocked out as Kumble makes a killing'.

'Kumble takes haul of fame', captioned The Pioneer while The Times of India headline read 'Kumble makes history with perfect 10'. The Indian Express headlined '10 out of 10: Pakistan kumbled at the Kotla'.

Not many newspapers discussed the circumstances in which Pakistan crashed out for 202 after being 101 for no loss at one stage. But former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding was very harsh and critical of the umpiring by Ajit Jayaprakash.

"The picture changed when play resumed after lunch. What looked likely becoming an exciting, keenly fought battle for the second Test, was somewhat spoiled by a gentleman in the white coat," Holding wrote in The Indian Express.

"It all fell apart in Anil Kumble's third over after lunch. Two deliveries, two very questionable decisions and the Pakistanis found themselves at 101 for two," Holding wrote, adding: "Kumble might have been a bit fortunate just after lunch when he started the Pak decline but has to be said that be bowled brilliantly in the second and third sessions."

While most of the Indian papers tried to play down the umpiring controversies, The Pioneer was, however, daring to attribute Kumble's success to some favourable umpiring.

"The win was not without niggling controversies," said The Pioneer in its front page report.

"Can Pakistan complain of an Indian treachery at Kotla? The history of Indo-Pakistan cricket contests is punctuated with umpiring grievances. There were a few doubtful decisions in Pakistan's second innings and, on a day when all decisions were given by A.V. Jayaprakash off the bowling of Anil Kumble, our neighbours might be far from pleased," the paper added.

"There was a dramatic turnaround in fortunes triggered off by umpire Jayaprakash's doubtful decisions against Shahid Afridi and Ijaz Ahmad has to be noted. The delay on the part of the umpire in giving Ijaz out thickens the plot.

"The match was won and lost in that over," The Pioneer claimed.

The Indian Express said: "Before the leg-spinner's performance completely overshadowed everything else that happened on a Super Sunday, two uncomfortable questions also propped up to set up a serious debate in the days to come."

The Indian Express said there were some murmurs about the role played by Jayaprakash's index finger in the final analysis which showed three lbws in India's favour. "Coming after the much-debated decision against Sachin Tendulkar in the first innings, there was bound to be pressure on the former Karnataka Ranji captain this time. To complicate matters, Jayaprakash ended up handling Kumble's 10-wicket third spell.

"Afridi's dismissal sparked off a buzz, which grew as Ijaz was given out to a ball that drifted to leg to land on the boot of his front foot. Known to be an umpire who makes up his mind fast and sticks to his decisions, Jayaprakash wavered for a few seconds this time before the finger came up.

"To be fair, Jayaprakash's decision stood out all the more as his style was in contrast to that of his colleague at the other end - Steve Bucknor, a self-confessed 'not-out umpire'," observed The Indian Express.

The Times of India said the holiday crowd was restless till Kumble struck his first blow in the 25th over, his ninth, to remove Shahid Afridi. "Umpire Jayaprakash upheld Nayan Mongia's appeal for a catch behind, but the batsman looked upset. The replays were not conclusive as there was some deviation before Mongia caught the ball."

However, The Times of India admitted that the pitch behaved strangely at times and even looked batsman-friendly. "But in the next hour (after lunch) it was up to its tricks. The ball which invariably kept low suddenly would assist Kumble."

The Times of India, nevertheless, felt that all the pre-tour tensions washed away by the generally good-natured competitive spirit in which the matches were played.

The Statesman, trying to ignore umpiring blunders, still said: "Umpire A.V Jayaprakash became an integral part of the event, being the first Test umpire to judge on all the 10 dismissals to be same bowler."

The Hindustan Times went a step forward when it observed that though the two-Test series ended as a 1-all draw, it should have been 2-0 in favour of India. "That loss at Chennai, where India were left in the cold just 12 runs short of the target, was lost from a winning position."

The Hindustan Times agreed that Jayaprakash gave a couple of debatable decisions but stressed it was one of those days when one team (India) were assured of a victory and the other team (Pakistan) were chasing a mirage.

"Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmad and Yousuf Youhana were given out in debatable circumstances but they were not the decisions which would have stopped India from winning."

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)