Perth, Jan 17: Lavishing praise on Anil Kumble for becoming only the third bowler to achieve 600 Test wickets, former Australian skipper Steve Waugh today said the veteran spinner may not have been a dreaded headline-hunter like Shane Warne but his quiet rise to prominence is no less admirable.
"Any fair-minded cricket fan would have enjoyed Anil Kumble`s 600th Test wicket even though it was Australia`s potential saviour Andrew Symonds," Waugh wrote in his column for a newspaper after the second day`s play in the ongoing third Test.
"Kumble has taken 600 wickets with a fraction of the publicity afforded to Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan but he has been a much admired performer among his rivals," he added.
Waugh said Kumble has never been the talked-about bowler of his side but has delivered the goods consistently.
"He is not the type of player who gives you a restless night`s sleep as you ponder his threat, but he is a specialist at ploughing through your dropped guard if you relax for the briefest moment," he said.
Waugh said he also admired the 37-year-old`s fitness in a team "which is not renowned for their fitness." "The Australian side greatly admire the way his last over of a marathon day is bowled with as much energy as his first," Waugh said.
On the ongoing match in which Australia`s 16-match winning streak looks in danger, Waugh said pace spearhead Brett Lee will have to become the host team`s knight in the shining armour.
"Brett lee has become the world`s no. 1 fast bowler this summer -- and this is the day he will have to prove it."
"It will need some special lee magic to hoist Australia back into this test after India`s day of triumph," Waugh said after the second day`s play saw the visitors take a 170-run lead.
"I am hoping for Australia`s sake lee has one last big surge in him in this match. He deserves to be rated the no. 1 fast man in the world with South African Dale Steyn the only quick I can put close to him, given the reasonably shallow state of world pace stocks," he added.
Bureau Report
