MAN TO WATCH: Anil Kumble's change of pace and flippers will be difficult for the Sri Lankans to deal with on the final day of the second Test. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI : His motivation level, as pointed out by longtime teammate Javagal Srinath, is phenomenal. Hard to imagine Anil Kumble short of ideas. It was no different at the Kotla on Tuesday. Just two wickets fell in his bag but then one of them mattered a lot as he lured Marwan Atapattu into a false shot after the batsman looked set to spill his personal battle with the spinners into the final day.

Obviously Kumble had potted the dismissal. "It had to be planned. Normally I try and bowl what I need to at my pace. I don't experiment for, say, three to four overs because I need to read the pitch, and the batsmen. I keep varying my pace. He (Atapattu) was batting well and I knew I had to vary my pace. There was not much in the pitch. Since he was looking to play positive, I just concentrated on change of pace. It was my slower one that got him ultimately," said the ace leg-spinner.

"It's common to see the motivation level of many cricketers of his age drop after a decade and a half. With Anil it's been always high and never have I seen him complaining whatever the state of the game. He's managed to sustain his interest in bowling and the greed to keep taking wickets has only grown in recent years," said Srinath as he watched Kumble swing the contest India's way with the prized scalp of Atapattu.

Focussed

Kumble was honest when he said, "I don't need to worry about motivating myself because once I have the ball in my hand I'm completely focussed on going to the middle and doing my job. I forget everything else once I'm in the middle."

What sets Kumble apart from the rest? It has to be his intensity to do his job to the best of his ability. It is easier said though. Just watch him train for the match and keep himself fit to bowl tirelessly. The physical demands on a spinner may not compare with that of a fast bowler but sore shoulders and muscles at the end of the day are a grim reminder of the state of his contribution to the team. The ice bag becomes a handy mate to ready the affable leg-spinner for the next day.

Srinath was right when he observed that Kumble had reinvented himself. "For every occasions he seems to have a gameplan that he follows most diligently. The amazing variety that marks his bowling comes into the picture. As someone who has played at the highest level I know how difficult it is to deliver so consistently and this consistency is what I admire most about Anil," Srinath said.

Remarkable achievement

For a cricketer who had no mentor, Kumble's achievements have been remarkable. For long he chose not to react when some critics questioned his credentials as a spinner. "Can't spin the ball" was the common refrain. He shut them up with his rich haul of wickets and match-winning performances. "I think it would be right to say that he has learnt things on his own," Srinath stressed.

The reasons could be many but nothing more clinching than the fact that Kumble spends a lot of time thinking about the game even when he is not playing.

"Thinking about the game is an important part of your cricket. If you stop thinking then you lose it. As simple as that. To me, it is very important to keep talking to your mind," noted Kumble.

A complete bowler

Batsmen have, just as Atapattu on Tuesday, realised that Kumble can be devastating in a matter of time. He is a master at setting up a batsman. "He may look to be struggling one moment but can stun you the next. That is the beauty of his bowling. A batsman can never afford to relax against Anil," said Srinath.

His feats, mostly overseas and mostly on unfriendly tracks, put him on a high pedestal. He is a complete bowler, who can revel in all conditions. He is equally effective in his approach at all levels of the game and always serious with his bowling. "Never take cricket lightly," is his wise counsel for all those who wish to strike a long association with the game.

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