The Hindu : Front Page : Kumble retires from ODIs

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Saturday, Mar 31, 2007
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Kumble retires from ODIs

S. Dinakar

& #151; Photo: AP

GOODBYE TO ODI: Leg-spinning ace Anil Kumble, seen here in his last One Day International, against Bermuda in the World Cup, announced his retirement from ODI cricket in Bangalore on Friday. He would, however, continue to represent India in Tests.

Chennai: India's most successful bowler, Anil Kumble, announced his retirement from One Day Internationals in Bangalore on Friday.

The 36-year-old leg-spinning ace picked up 337 wickets in 271 ODIs at an average of 30.89. His economy rate was a creditable 4.30.

Kumble, who began his ODI career against Sri Lanka in Sharjah (1990), was not part of the Indian eleven for the two key Group `B' matches, against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, during the side's disastrous World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

Ironically, Kumble was the county's most economical bowler during the ODI series in South Africa this season, conceding just 3.66 runs an over. He bowled with craft and precision.

"It has been a long journey since 1990," Kumble said on Friday. He thanked his parents, brother, wife and teammates for their support.

Kumble's accuracy, subtle variations, and bounce enabled him to contain and strike in the middle-overs. In his peak, the leg-spinner also operated in the end overs, mixing his pace and using the crease. He dented line-ups with his googly and the top-spinner, apart from the leg-break. Kumble's temperament — the intense bowler rarely succumbed to pressure — was perhaps his greatest ally in tense situations.

A man for the big occasion, Kumble's finest moment arrived against the West Indies in the Hero Cup final of 1993. The genial leg-spinner's six for 12 off 6.1 overs at the Eden Gardens was a tournament-winning spell. He adapted well to the pitches outside the sub-continent. Kumble's five for 33 against New Zealand in Wellington (1994) fetched victory for India.

Kumble's combativeness was evident in his aggressive approach. "He is a fast bowler in a spinner's body," his spin partner Harbhajan Singh once said. India coach Greg Chappell often highlighted the competitive streak in the leg-spinner, comparing Kumble with the legendary Aussie fast bowler Dennis Lillee.

Among India's foremost match-winners in Tests with 547 wickets in 113 Tests at 28.65, Kumble will continue to chase his dreams in the game's longer version.

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