All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

261 August 1990 coming only nine months after his first-class debut. It was the start of an exceptional 132-Test career. By the time India met Pakistan at the beginning of 1999 Kumble had taken over 200 Test wickets. This was the first series between the quarrelsome neighbours for nine years. Previous attempts during the 1990s to organise Pakistani tours of India had failed because of threats of disruption but the two Tests largely went off without trouble, albeit that massive levels of security were provided. A little confusingly the bilateral series was immediately followed by another Test that was part of the Asian Test Championship but not of the preceding series. As the previous 14 Tests before the hiatus had yielded one positive result, expectations for an exciting series were probably not high. Happily expectations were confounded, and it turned out to be an exciting, and diplomatically successful, spin-dominated series played in front of large crowds between two strong and well-matched sides. The First Test at Chennai was a nail-biter. Chasing 271 India slumped to 82 for five but then, mainly thanks to a Tendulkar century, reached 254 for six before a late collapse saw four wickets go for two runs. For Pakistan, off-spinner (and purveyor of the doosra) Saqlain Mushtaq took five wickets in each innings, a feat he would emulate in the next Test. The Second Test was played at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, a wide open, largely uncovered ground with relatively rudimentary facilities, on a pitch of variable bounce that still hadn’t recovered from the effects of recent politically-inspired vandalism. Kumble’s feat was performed on the fourth day as Pakistan chased a record-breaking 420 to win, India having scored 339 in their second innings to add to a useful first innings lead of 80. One record had already been set earlier in the match when Pakistan captain Wasim Akram took his 363rd Test wicket to pass his nation’s previous record-holder Imran Khan. Although the Pakistan side included eight Test centurions their chances of victory were slight. However at 101 without loss, and with Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi well settled, they would have had hopes of at least a draw and a series victory. Kumble had bowled an unpromising eight overs for 37 but by now had switched to the Pavilion End, and this soon did the trick. With the second ball of his ninth over, an astounded 19-year-old Afridi, playing in his third Test, was controversially given out caught behind by umpire Arani Jayaprakash, a former first-class cricketer standing in his second Test. Next ball Ijaz Ahmed was clearly plumb in front to a low full toss and, although he averted a hat-trick, Inzamam-ul-Haq played on soon after. Yousuf Youhana and Moin Khan didn’t last long and when Anwar went at 128 for six, caught at short leg after resisting for two and a half hours (his 69 was the second highest score in the match), the end seemed close. Kumble, varying pace and spin, had taken six wickets in 44 balls. Wasim Akram resisted for an hour and a half, but defeat was surely still inevitable. Kumble took the eighth and ninth wickets in his 26th over: Mushtaq Ahmed caught at gully off an awkward lifter, Saqlain Mushtaq leg-before. He now had a chance to go one better than Jasu Patel, Kapil Anil Kumble