Australia gains more than India at the Kotla

Forget losing Anil Kumble to retirement. After having scored 600+ runs in the first innings and with 3 days to spare, India was not able to inflict a defeat on Australia in the third test that ended in at Delhi today. The Kotla was supposed to be a “spinning track” and one where India has won most of its recent matches. Australia does not have a full-time spinner, let alone a wizard like Warne or even McGill. And Ishant Sharma was playing in home conditions. And yet, we managed to let Australia dig themselves out of a fairly deep hole. Thanks to some pretty ordinary fielding, not only was India not able to enforce a follow-on, but we also let Australia bat right through to nearly the end of Day 4 and get to within striking distance of India’s mammoth first innings total.

The bottom line- Australia go to Nagpur with their confidence on a high after the severe dent at Mohali. India, on the other hand, must be a worried lot. If the Nagpur track is going to assist spinnersthis time (now that Shashank Manohar is part of the BCCI and there is no obvious rift with the Vidarbha Cricket Association), Kumble will be even mre sorely missed. One hopes Harbhajan has recovered from his toe injury and is match fit and that Amit Sharma will get better support from the fielders.

Anil Kumble retires- end of an era in Indian cricket

Today, at lunch on the 5th and last day of the 3rd test match between India and Australia at Delhi, Anil Kumble announced his decision to retire from international cricket at the end of today. That he would announce his decision to hang up his boots after serving Indian cricket for 18 years (and with 619 scalps, becoming the world’s third highest wicket taker in test cricket after Muralitharan and Warne) was expected. What was unexpected perhaps, was the timing. Most people expected him to retire after England’s tour of India that begins in a couple of weeks. But the injury he picked up at Bangalore and the cut on his left hand that he picked up on Day 3 of the Delhi test rendered him less than 100% match fit. And “Jumbo”, who always gave his 100% on the field, did not want to change at this stage of his career. He always put his team ahead of himself (remember him bowling in the West Indies with a fractured jaw or as recently as yesterday, running hard to take a catch to end Australia’s first innings, or his gritty batting in Adelaide about an year ago, or the century against England last year….?). He did not want to be in the team if he was not in a position to give his 100%. Ergo, he retired.

Kumble’s evolution into a highly competitive but gentlemenly cricketer spans nearly two decades. He began his career in England, a bespectacled 20 year old. He was never a great tweaker of the ball, and many questions were asked on and off about his effectiveness as a bowler. In hindsight, those kinds of questions were misplaced, given that he has ended his test career with 619 wickets. But that he brought it up in his last interview as an international test cricketer shows how hurt he has been by those barbs. He was appointed captain of the Indian test team just about one year ago, before India embarked on its tour of Australia. Captaincy too was late in coming to this thinking cricketer. He has been accused of being too conservative (and both against South Africa earlier this year and against Australia in the second test, when Dhoni stepped in as skipper due to Kumble’s injuries, Dhoni made inspired decisions that won him the tests)- but such comparisons are odious. Sachin too had a relatively indifferent win percentage a captain- and India had not quite got into the habit of winning on away tours. Perhaps Kumble’s muted displays of emotion came in the way of his being made captain 2-3 years ago. A consummate leader, Kumble remained calm and dignified even when everyone around him seemed to be losing their cool. Remember the Sydney test last year which has gone down in history for more than just cricket? Kumble was angry too- but he retained his cool and remained level-headed even as he talked tough to the BCCI about not going ahead with the tour. Who knows how India’s cricketing fortunes would have shaped had Kumble been captain under Guru Greg?

Be all that as it may. There is no denying that with Anil Kumble’s retirement from the game we have come to the end of an era. There will be newer spinners on the scene- people who turn the ball more viciously than Anil ever did- but it will be a very tall ask to expect anyone to fill Jumbo’s giant shoes in a hurry, After all, any such aspirant will need to take more than 600 wickets at an average of about 30 runs (and help India win as many times as Kumble has) before he can even comes close.

Anil- heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for Indian cricket. You will be missed. But hey, have a great retired life. I hope you will remain associated with Indian cricket- not just as a role model but also as coach, advisor and guide. And perhaps future selector.