Kumble takes 10 (in a match!) at Ahmedabad in 2001
For nearly two decades, Anil Kumble shouldered the burden of India’s spin attack, almost single-handedly. In 2001, when he was recovering from injury, India discovered Harbhajan Singh, and two combined very well, as expected, to trouble England during the latter’s tour to the sub-continent in 2001. At Ahmedabad, during the second Test of the series, Kumble picked up 10 wickets for the match in a hard-fought draw. Here’s a relook at the legendary leggie’s wonderful performance in the match.
England won the toss and chose to bat first. They got off to a brilliant start with the openers adding 124 runs for the opening wicket. Kumble then brought India right back into the game, dismissing the first four England batsmen. Kumble began by sending back Mark Butcher and followed it up by getting rid of Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick in quick succession. From 124 for no loss, England crumbled to 176 for 4. Kumble continued the great Indian fight back, by sending back Andrew Flintoff for a duck. The England lower order fought extremely hard to recover to 407 as Kumble did not find any support from the other bowlers. He added the scalps of James Foster and Ashley Giles to his kitty to finish with figures of 7 for 115 from 51 overs.
India managed only 291 in reply, but did well enough not to allow England to dominate the Test from thereon. Kumble found it harder to get wickets in the second innings. His first scalp was that of Flintoff, who was England’s fourth wicket to fall at the score of 183. As England continued to stumble, Kumble sent back Foster and Richard Dawson cheaply. The Indian leggie ended with figures of 3 for 118 and ten for the match as England were all out for 257. Both teams hung on for a draw on the final day.
Other impressive performances in the Test
The Test saw a number of superb performances from both sides. Craig White scored 121 in England’s first innings even as Trescothick contributed 99 and Butcher 51. Butcher made 92 in England’s second innings while skipper Nasser Hussain contributed 50. Among the bowlers, left-arm spinner Ashley Giles grabbed five wickets in India’s first innings. For the home side, Sachin Tendulkar made 103 in India’s first essay and VVS Laxman contributed 75. Deep Dasgupta and Shiv Sunder Das made 60 and 58 in India’s second innings. Harbhajan Singh also chipped in, claiming a five-for in England’s second innings.
Kumble vs England
Kumble faced England in 19 Tests, claiming 92 wickets at an acceptable average of 30. 59 with four five-wicket hauls. Not surprisingly, he tasted most of his success in India, with 56 wickets in 9 Tests at an average of 23. 64. All his five-wicket hauls were claimed in India. At home against England, Kumble was unplayable.
--By A Cricket Analyst
