Top spinner, cold facts

February 18: Anil Kumble is the only spinner in the history of One-Day Internationals with a haul of 200-plus wickets. In fact, Kumble is...

February 18: Anil Kumble is the only spinner in the history of One-Day Internationals with a haul of 200-plus wickets. In fact, Kumble is fourth in the list of top wicket-takers which is dominated by fast bowlers.

Of course, batsmen who have been blinded and bowled over by the pace of his deliveries would like to term him a medium-pacer. Kumble can be devastating on tracks which afford fizz and bounce. But the wickets in England will be a whole lot different and maybe, not to his liking. Kumble has a crucial role in the middle of the innings. And with the high possibility of being the solitary specialist spinner in the playing eleven, his role is very critical in the game plan of the team.

Kumble8217;s teasing accuracy coupled with the pace of his deliveries does not give the batsmen scoring opportunities they can expect from a Shane Warne or a Mushtaq Ahmed. But when batsmen do get on top, Kumble8217;s disappointment becomes very obvious 8211; on his face. Body language plays a very important role in sports, and at an international level, sportspersons will snatch every bit of advantage they get.

Track record in England

Kumble will not look at his two previous outings with the Indian team very fondly. In 1990, he was raw and on his first full tour while in 1996 he was low on confidence and wickets.

On the tour of 1990, playing his first ODI at Headingley, Leeds, Kumble had analysis of 11-2-29-2 8212; an effort which got him the Man of the Match award from adjudicator Geoff Boycott. But he conceded 58 runs without taking a wicket in the next match and in 1996 8212; in the first half of the English season 8212; he took just three wickets from three ODIs.

Kumble, however, had a fantastic season in 1995 when he captured 105 wickets from 17 three-day matches for Northants.

His present form is very encouraging and he will land in England with an aura around him as only the second bowler in the 122-year-old Test history to capture all 10 wickets in an innings.

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Tendulkar has come along nicely as a dependable spinner, turns the ball more than Kumble and has earned a name as a partnership breaker. But his 78 wickets have been captured with a mixture of leg-spin, off-spin and medium-pace. And in England, Tendulkar may end up bowling medium-pace.