Related Links

June 13, 2006

India’s highest wicket taker in Test Match Cricket – Anil Kumble achieved yet another milestone in his illustrious career during the third day’s play in the 2nd Test Match at St.Lucia. By taking the wicket of Chris Gayle in the morning session with a straighter one, Kumble took his 519th wicket which leveled him along with the former West Indian great Courtney Walsh. The Jamaican, who is currently 43-year-old, has achieved this feat in 132 Tests whereas Anil Kumble has achieved the same in just 108 Tests! However Courtney Walsh has been the better bowler taking his wickets at a strike rate of 57.84 whereas the Indian leggie is almost 8 balls behind him. But Kumble did overtake Courtney Walsh after bowling another 49 balls when he took the wicket of Dwayne Bravo after the lunch break with a fizzing leg break. Kumble did not get any other wicket after that but he had done enough to put India in the driver’s seat.

Anil Kumble had entered Test Cricket as a bespectacled 20-year-old in 1990 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. After playing in more than 15 years, Kumble has taken 32 fifers and eight 10 wicket hauls. With 520 Test wickets including the wicket of Bravo on the third day’s play, Kumble is now the fourth highest wicket taker in the history of Test Match Cricket. He is now behind Shane Warne (685 wkts in 140 tests), Muralitharan (635 wkts in 106 tests) and Glenn McGrath (542 wkts in 119 tests).
 

Top of the Page