Cometh the hour...Cometh the man!

The current series down under has been widely discussed and shredded threadbare! The story lines emerging are too numerous to mention! Controversy, racism, gamesmanship, allegations, passionate fans n both sides of the divide... oh and there happens to be some very good cricket being payed there too! But all of them are posts for another day. This post is about leadership and how great leaders act when all is crumbling around them. This post is about probably the greatest cricketer India has produced to date!

The chips were down , his team had just lost a match they shouldn't have, his batsmen had crumbled, the umpiring was atrocious , a member of his team was being accused of racism. Amid all the chaos and confusion one man stood tall, dignified, poised voice steady calm , measured a rock! Even the winning captain seemed churlish, defiant, defensive!

Yes this post is about Anil "Jumbo" Kumble. It has been the same story throughout his career. Even his appointment as captain was met with scepticism, a step backward most experts cried! Give it to someone younger!.But in hindsight for once the selectors have made the right choice. No one could have been better suited to the handling the fiasco at Sydney and come out with his head held high.

I remember his first series in England, i didn't think he would make it. He didn't set the world on fire right away. But he wen back worked n his craft, and the results are there for all to see. The criticisms have not stopped. For ages people have said he can't turn the ball, he is too predictable, play him like a medium pacer with an off cutter. Well as of yesterday 601 of the best the world had to offer couldn't manage that !

But most of all he epitomises the spirit and the manner in which any sport should be approached. Compelling moments for me, post the Sydney test, His hundred in England, and bowling with his jaw broken in the West Indies.

You can't deny the talents and achievements of a Tendulkar, the dedication of the Wall, the fearless leadership of Saurav, the batting prowess of Gavaskar, or the all round abilities of Kapil Dev. But to me most of the tests won over the past 16 odd years are in no Small part due to the wiles of one man who couldn't turn the leg break. To the greatest Indian cricketer of all time and an awesome model as a man!