Chennai, March 25 At a glittering function here today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honoured India's leg spinner and the new Test captain Anil Kumble by presenting him a "Golden Ball".

The honour was to commemorate his unique achievement of claiming 600 wickets (in 125 Tests) and emerging as the third highest wicket taker in Tests after Lankan off spinner Muthiah Muralitharan and the Aussie leg spinner Shane Warne. Former cricket captains, except Ajit Wadekar and Kapil Dev, were invited to appreciate the Karnataka legend. The honour came a day ahead of the first test against South Africa beginning here tomorrow. The special made-to-order 'Gold, Diamond and Ruby' ball has been made by Orra Diamonds. There are 1500 pieces of the finest Belgian diamonds of 37 carats and 640 pieces of finest rubies of 239 carats crafted across the ball, which is mounted on a hand made of wood and gold. Players of both the Indian and South African teams applauded KUmble for his unique achievement.

"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 claimed 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.

DEVELOP TENACITY

Anil Kumble today said the phase of transition in Indian cricket calls for the cricketers of this generation to develop tenacity.

Replying to the felicitation to him the BCCI which honoured him with a golden ball for bagging 600 wickets in Test matches, the maximum by any Indian bowler, spin or pace, Kumble said it was a happy foreboding that India was making winning a habit especially in the ODIs and T20 matches.

"Mental and Physical toughness are the keys to success for upcoming cricketers.They also have to sustain the passion and desire to play on", Kumble observed, and added amidst applause "I wish to be here with you all again to celebrate my 700 wickets." Kumble also said he especially owed a lot to former physio Andrew Leipus, but for whom he would not have been able to stage a comeback and reach the new milestone in his career, after his shoulder injury.

He also expressed his gratitutde to many former Indian players who attended the felicitation, like the legendary spinners Bishen Singh Bedi and S Venkataraghavan and former captains Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev, who were always by his side during his blossoming career.

"I particularly owe a lot to leg spinner B S Chandrasekhar, who gave me a lot of tips on the nuances of unorthodox leg spin bowlilng", Kumble said.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar and Treasurer N Srinivasan described Kumble as "Engineer of Excellence" and the best match winner Indian cricket has ever had. "He is a leader who combines diplomalcy with tenacity", Mr Srinivasan said. - Bureau Report