Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne heaped praise on ex India leggie Anil Kumble and called him ‘super competitor’. Warne, the most successful leg spinner in cricketing history, opened up on the factors that made Kumble an ace spinner.
Kumble scalped 619 Test wickets despite not big a massive turner of the cricket ball. The Karnataka-born cricketer did fairly well in white-ball cricket as well- picking 337 wickets in 271 ODIs. Warne said Kumble’s competitiveness and a sharp mind helped him become the third most successful bowler in Test cricket; just behind Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan– who have accounted 708 and 800 wickets respectively.
Shane Warne on Anil Kumble’s success as a leading spinner
“He (Kumble) was a super competitor, it was his brain, he thought about the game. Even though he is a gentleman, and he is quiet, he is a super competitor. He is hungry, love calling him a friend. Always did so well.” said Warne.
Warne also pointed out that Kumble purchased a lot of bounce from the wicket, courtesy his height and the release. “For a guy who did not spin the ball a long way, one of the reasons why he got so many wickets is because he got bounce and because of his skill,” he added.
Kumble is also one of the two bowlers to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved the feat against Pakistan in a Test match in Delhi, back in 1999- becoming only the second Test cricketer after England’s Jim Laker.
Warne also lauded former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu, calling him the best player of spin. “I had to pick Navjot Singh Sidhu because he was the best player against spin I have ever played against. All the other spinners I have played with, they have also told me that Sidhu was brilliant against them,” Warne said.