Anil Kumble to be inducted into Cricket Hall of Fame

Dubai: Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble will be inducted into the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Hall of Fame during the World Cup match between India and South Africa in Melbourne on Sunday, the game’s world governing body announced on Thursday.

Kumble, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as India’s Test captain, will be the 77th person to be included in the elite list. Kumble is the fourth Indian cricketer to be inducted after fellow former captains Bishen Bedi, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. The legendary trio was inducted into the list in 2009.

The 44-year-old Kumble, with 619 Test wickets, is the third highest wicket-taker after Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). He also has 337 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs), which ranks him in ninth position on the all-time list of most successful bowlers in that format.

“It’s an honour to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Indeed, it will be a great moment of pride to receive it during the World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). I deem it as a great privilege to join the list of great cricketing luminaries,” Kumble said.

Kumble, who is now chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, captained India in 14 Tests between 2007 and 2008, winning three and losing five.

In the 138-year history of Tests, during which 2,156 matches have been played to date, Kumble is one of only two bowlers after England’s Jim Laker to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved the feat against traditional rival Pakistan in New Delhi in February 1999.

Also, late Australian woman cricketer Betty Wilson will also be inducted into the list. She played 11 Tests between 1947 and 1958, in which she scored 862 runs at an average of 57.4 and took 68 wickets at 11.8 per wicket.

Wilson passed away on January 22, 2010, aged 88.