da prosport bet： Anil Kumble said that Warne had contributed immeasurably toreviving spin bowling around the world, though he predicted that MuttiahMuralitharan would soon overhaul whatever record Warne leaves behind
da cassino： Dileep Premachandran in Durban21-Dec-2006
‘ Budding cricketers took up leg-spin after watching him, everyone wanted to becomea Warne. it’s a little sad that the younger generation of today will notbe able to see him in action’ – Anil Kumble © Getty Images
Anil Kumble, the other great legspinner of the modern era, said that Shane Warne had contributed immeasurably to reviving spin bowling around the world, though he predicted that Muttiah Muralitharan would soon overhaul whatever record Warne leaves behind.”There’s going to void in Australian and world cricket,” said Kumble,addressing the press corps after a training session in Durban. “I havealways admired him and followed his bowling closely. I’ll definitely misswatching him bowl on television. He had a fantastic career. When FredTruman reached 300 Test wickets, people thought it would be tough forsomeone else to replicate that feat. Warne has 700 wickets, that’s anamazing achievement.”When Warne and Kumble emerged in the early ’90s, spin bowling was stuck ina rut, and Kumble had no doubt that Warne’s skill and flamboyance hadplayed its part in some many young kids taking up wrist-spin. “Not justAustralian cricket, cricket in general will miss him,” he said. “Buddingcricketers took up leg-spin after watching him, everyone wanted to becomea Warne. It’s a little sad that the younger generation of today will notbe able to see him in action.”Kumble himself has more than 500 wickets, but he said that there had neverbeen any intense personal rivalry. “I’ve always enjoyed meeting up withWarney, and sharing thought on spin bowling,” he said. “He has been a verydear friend. There’s been no extra competition between us. He tried toensure that he took wickets against us and helped Australia win. I triedto ensure that I took wickets against the Aussies and helped India win. Inthat sense, there has always been a competition, but nothing extra.”Though they were markedly different in their approach and style, Kumbleadmitted that if there was one thing he envied, it was Warne’s ability togive the ball a good rip. “If there is one thing he has that I would loveto have, it is the ability to spin the ball the way he does,” he said.”Warney has been very open about what he thinks and how he bowls. Not manyopposition bowlers would say what they bowl and how they do it. I am veryhappy to have played with him and competed with him. I have learnt a lotfrom him, not just by talking to him but by watching the way he bowls.”Kumble wasn’t too surprised by the timing of Warne’s announcement, as hestands on the threshold of 700 Test wickets with the Ashes having been wonback. “I’m sure he had the Ashes in mind, that was probably the goal hehad set himself,” said Kumble. “I thought he might come out of one-dayretirement and have a crack at the World Cup, but he has had a long careerand his fair share of injuries.”He’s someone who deserves to finish in style. He will get to 700 wicketsin front of his home crowd, and I’m sure Australia are looking to win inSydney, not merely to defeat England but to give Warney a fittingfarewell.”Kumble said that breaching the 700-barrier would be a fitting final actfor Warne, though he reckoned that Murali would go past sooner, ratherthan later. “There are a lot more Test matches played these days than usedto be earlier. Teams get to play between 12 and 14 Tests a year, Australiaprobably a little more. With the quality he [Warne] has, he’s bound to getwickets. The benchmark has changed over the years, the current benchmarkis 700, but the one closest to him, Murali, will change the entire scenevery soon.”As for what Warne leaves behind, Kumble had few doubts. “Cricket will bepoorer in his absence,” he said. “Even in South Africa, kids are trying tobowl legspin like him. That’s the legacy he will leave behind.”
