Kumble enters the magical hall of 500 Test Wikkis !

The English danced to the tunes of Jumbo as the braveheart from Bangie stormed into the elite 500 Test Wickets Club. He becomes the fifth bowler in the world to achieve his feat and more importantly the second fastest. However, the journey this far has been a long and uncomfortable one with some fond as well as bitter memories. Today on this very day, the one man Demolition of Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla; and the first day of the Indo Aussie Test, Chepauk, Oct 04 is worth mentioning. Not to forget the appearance of The Mummy in the Antigua Test where inspite of a broken jaw, with no support the man bowled 14 overs and took the prized wicket of Brian C Lara. What a fightback by a true warrior after witnessing the dressing room for couple of tests! Ignoring all the medical advises after getting the jaw fractured by a Dhillon delivery, entered the ground with his jaw supported by a surgical guaze. Imagine the pain and on top of it the determination.

There has been numerous ocassions when Kumble's armoury has been compared to the ripping leggies of Warne, and the doosras of Murali, but his nearly straighter ones with varied pace and bounce have dated with a generation of batsmen since 1990 with the same lust.

I must sign off by endorsing "Form might be temporary, but Class is Permanent". Thanks Jumbo for your services to the nation.