Melbourne, Feb 19: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble will be inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on Sunday (February 22) during the India-South Africa World Cup game at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

World Cup Special

"Anil Kumble, the former India captain and one of the most versatile wrist-spinners to ever play the game, and Betty Wilson, one of the greatest women's cricketers of all-time, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match between India and South Africa at the MCG on 22 February," International Cricket Council (ICC) said today. (10 facts about Ind-SA game)

Kumble will be formally inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame during the innings break of the match at MCG, ICC added. ICC Director and Chairman of Cricket Australia, Wally Edwards, will present Kumble with his commemorative cap.

Kumble, with 619 Test wickets, is the third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket after Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708), while his 337 wickets in ODIs ranks him in ninth position on the all-time list of most successful bowlers in that format. Kumble captained India in 14 Tests between 2007 and 2008, winning three and losing five.

He is one of only two bowlers in Test history, after England's Jim Laker to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved this feat against Pakistan in New Delhi in February 1999.

Betty Wilson, a former Australia batter, played 11 Tests between 1947 and 1958 in which she scored 862 runs at average of 57.4 and took 68 wickets at 11.8 per wicket.

On her debut against New Zealand at the age of 26 in 1948, she scored 90 and took four for 37 and six for 28. In her second Test, she scored 111 against England, becoming the first Australia woman to score a Test century against England, and took nine more wickets. Against England in 1957-58, she became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test. Wilson passed away on 22 January 2010, aged 88.

'It's an hour to be inducted'

Reacting to this news, Kumble said: "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 ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I deem it as a great privilege to join the list of great cricketing luminaries."

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson congratulated Kumble on his induction. "Anil was an outstanding international cricketer, a very well-respected opponent, a great statesman for his country and a role model for millions of aspiring cricketers. He played hard but within the spirit of the game. His performance and record speak volumes for his tenacity, commitment, endurance and service to the game."

Kumble, who is now the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, is the fourth India cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame after fellow former captains Bishen Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

Overall, Kumble and Wilson are the 77th and 78th inductees while two more former icons of the game will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, details of which will be announced in due course.

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ICC Cricket Hall of Fame - initial inductees (55)

Sydney Barnes, Bishan Bedi, Alec Bedser, Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Ian Botham, Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Lance Gibbs, Graham Gooch, David Gower, WG Grace, Tom Graveney, Gordon Greenidge, Richard Hadlee, Walter Hammond, Neil Harvey, George Headley, Jack Hobbs, Michael Holding, Leonard Hutton, Rohan Kanhai, Imran Khan, Alan Knott, Jim Laker, Harold Larwood, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Clive Lloyd, Hanif Mohammad, Rodney Marsh, Malcolm Marshall, Peter May, Javed Miandad, Keith Miller, Bill O'Reilly, Graeme Pollock, Wilfred Rhodes, Barry Richards, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Garfield Sobers, Brian Statham, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Frank Woolley, Frank Worrell

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2009-10 Inductees

Herbert Sutcliffe, Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram, Victor Trumper and Clarrie Grimmett

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2010-11

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Ken Barrington, Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner

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2011-12

Belinda Clark, Frederick Spofforth, Curtly Ambrose and Alan Davidson

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2012-13

Enid Bakewell, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne

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2013-14

Adam Gilchrist, Debbie Hockley, Bob Simpson and Waqar Younis

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2014-15

Anil Kumble and Betty Wilson. 2 more to be announced later

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