Photo: S Subramanium, The Hindu

[Anil Kumble, one of India's greatest Test cricketers and inarguably its most prolific match-winner, announced his retirement here at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday.] Source

Anil Kumble remained true to the tradition of ‘beautiful’ bowling. The tradition speaks that the bowler must aim to put the ball in the right spot. The batsman must adjust himself to play the ball. It was also expected that the batsman would play a proper cricketing shot. Cricket was graceful and batsmen would mind if they got runs the ‘wrong way’.

Cricket changed. Batsmen decided to do away with grace and play to score runs quickly.

Anil didn’t change. He put the ball in the right spot and expected to trouble the batsman. The batsman lifted his bat and hit the ball anywhere in the field to score runs. The audience clapped and the batsman scored many more runs against Anil.

Anil made some changes in his bowling technique. He bowled some googlies and varied his bowling pace, but didn’t distance himself from his earlier style.

He retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket. He found it difficult to bowl in test matches. The Australians don’t move to the back foot to play a cover drive. They simply sweep him or defend the ball.

Today, Anil has retired from Test cricket. In a better cricketing environment, he could have persisted.

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* Some days back, a television news reporter said that Anil Kumble is a rude person. He talks down to the junior players. M S Dhoni emulates him and just smiles and leaves when greeted by any junior cricketer. The same channel and the same reporter were singing praises of Anil’s determination and gentle demeanour immediately after he announced his retirement from all defined formats of cricket.

* A popular tabloid challenges Anil’s comments on disrespect to senior cricketers. It says that Anil should be grateful that he has been loved and admired for so long and not complain about certain ‘truths’. The truth, as decided by the tabloid, points to Anil’s poor form and low quality cricket. He should immediately leave the team or be sacked. Indian cricket has no place for losers and non-performers. Now that he has retired, be prepared to read praises about the player tomorrow.

* A former cricketer, considered a great, smiled, paused, smiled, and gently stated the truth. Indian cricketers don’t retire; there is lot’s of money in the game. Now that Anil has retired, he will praise his ability to persist under pressure. Anil will now become a gentleman cricketer who always played for the country. Nobody would remind the ‘great’ that he had once vilified this cricketer.

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Watch out for people praising Anil’s ‘spirit’. They don’t know much about cricket and must say something. Anything.

“What do you think of Anil Kumble’s achievements?”

“Oh, he had a wonderful spirit.”