Kumble to be inducted into ICC's Hall of Fame Sunday

Dubai, Feb 19 (IANS) 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 Sunday, the game's world governing body announced Thursday.

Kumble, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as India's Test captain, will be the 77th member to be included in the elite list. Kumble is the fourth Indian cricketer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame 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 Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708). He also has 337 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) that 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 the 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 Tests 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.

Kumble made his Test debut in 1990 in Manchester and his final appearance was in New Delhi in October-November 2008. During his career, Kumble played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs.

Apart from his 619 Test and 337 ODI wickets, Kumble also scored 2,506 runs in Tests and 938 runs in ODIs.

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 Jan 22, 2010, aged 88.

Kumble and Wilson will be formally honoured during the innings break in the India versus South Africa match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

ICC director and chairman of Cricket Australia, Wally Edwards, will present Kumble his commemorative cap, while Wilson's commemorative cap will be received by her nephew, Ken Wilson, from ICC chief executive David Richardson.