Fighter Kumble announces retirement

India captain Anil Kumble, the third most successful bowler in Test history with 619 wickets, announced his retirement during the third Test against Australia.

Leg spinner Kumble, who turned 38 last month, reportedly brought forward his decision after badly injuring his left hand during the match, which would have ruled him out of the final game of the series at Nagpur on Thursday.

The captain split the webbing while fielding on Friday and was taken to hospital where he received
11 stitches.

He also struggled with a shoulder injury at the beginning of the series and did not play in the second Test in Mohali.

Kumble's rich tally of 619 wickets has come in 132 Tests over 18 years and only Muttiah Muralidaran
(756) and Shane Warne (708) stand ahead of him.

In 1999 Kumble became only the second bowler in Test history behind England's Jim Laker in 1956 to take all 10 wickets in an innings when he swept through Pakistan with 10-74.

He claimed 35 five-wicket hauls and collected 10 wickets in a match eight times. In his final series he did not take a wicket in the first Test - for the only time in India - but bravely returned with his hand bandaged to take 3-112 from 43.3 overs in the first innings here.

Kumble's final wicket of the innings was to dismiss Mitchell Johnson caught and bowled on the fourth day.

At the age of 37 Kumble took over the captaincy in 2007 and was in charge of India's first win over Pakistan in 27 years.

Before the first Test Kumble said this would be his final Test on his home ground in Bangalore but refused to set a date for his departure.

The hand injury, which he sustained while trying to catch Matthew Hayden at mid-wicket, confirmed his decision.

A useful lower-order batsman, Kumble's highlight was posting his only century with an unbeaten 110 against England at The Oval in 2007. His 45 in the first innings at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium took his career tally to 2506 runs at an average of 17.77.

Kumble made his debut against England in 1990.