Special Correspondent
‘I always believe that it is possible whenever I go out there’
London: A maiden century is often affirmation for a batsman that he belongs at the Test level. It’s a moment of catharsis.
Anil Kumble’s unbeaten 110 at The Oval was one such; except it was in his 118th Test, and his livelihood has depended on his bowling arm, even if — in a rash of optimism — he had signed a new bat contract with Gunn and Moore on what is surely his last tour of England.
“I always believe that it is possible whenever I go out there,” said Kumble, who started as a batsman in school.
“I came pretty close to it in 1996 (in Kolkata) and I never thought I would have to wait 117 Test matches so it’s very special.”
Kumble has been a tough batsman to shift: batting was merely an extension of his commitment to the team’s cause. His limpet-like qualities have helped win at least one Test series abroad, when he batted courageously on a spiteful Jamaica track with Rahul Dravid last year.
A sense of fulfilment
“It is a sense of fulfilment in the sense that I have achieved what everyone dreams of,” said the 36-year-old.
“When you start playing you always believe that you can bat and I think throughout my career I have put a price on my wicket. I know as a bowler how difficult it is to get a wicket and today it paid off.”
The century has a story to it. “We had a team meeting couple of days back and I mentioned that it is about time that our batters scored a hundred. And I never thought I would be the one to score a hundred. I jokingly mentioned at tea time when I was batting on 60 that maybe it was my turn to go out there and score a hundred.”
Kumble’s century — incidentally his seventh First Class three-figure score — won him bragging rights when he next meets his mate Shane Warne. The Australian leg-spinner’s highest Test score is 99, something he has never been able to live down.
“Warnie came really close,” said Kumble. “That thought was definitely there when I was batting that I should not slog and get out on 99.”
Instead, he contrived to get the ball through keeper Matt Prior to reach his hundred. “You always get four runs when you score there,” said Kumble, the ends of his mouth twitching.
Teammates thrilled
Kumble’s teammates were thrilled for their humble elder statesman. “The support I got from Sreesanth, obviously Dhoni initially and Zaheer was very important. Sree kept saying that you deserve a hundred I will hang in don’t worry. He probably came close to getting a fifty himself.”
M.S. Dhoni — who looked on from the dressing room, having fallen at 92 — said, “We were enjoying each and every stroke, but we were pretty worried when Sreesanth was on strike. You can make out from his (Kumble’s) expression on getting the hundred because you don’t see Anil bhai laughing and celebrating like that (often). It was amazing, a really remarkable moment and we enjoyed each and every part of it.”
