BCCI to 'bowl' Kumble with a Golden Ball

Chennai, Mar 24 (UNI) No bowler in history has won more Test matches for India than Anil Kumble who tormented the best batsmen in the world in his 18-year career becoming the first Indian to claim 600 test wickets.

To commemorate his unique achievement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will felicitate the ace leggie by presenting him a ''Golden Ball'' ahead of the first test against South Africa beginning on March 26.

The felicitation function would be held tomorrow in which players of both the Indian and South African teams would be in full attendance. BCCI president Sharad Pawar would present the Golden Ball to the Indian Test Skipper.

''Kumble, who has so far taken 604 Test wickets, will be given a golden ball by the board,'' Mr Pawar said, adding ''he is the only Indian to have completed 600 wickets in Tests.

''I think every Indian should be proud of him.The board is also happy with his performance. We will be giving him a golden ball which will be exceptional,'' he said.

Kumble (37), who has almost every Indian record in his kitty, became the second bowler in the history of Test cricket to claim all ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999.

He went past Glenn Mcgrath's 563 wickets at the Oval in August 2007 and in January this year, he broke the 600 barrier during the tumultous controversial tour of Australia.

He is only behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in all time high list of wicket takers.

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