A Farewell bid to the Legend Anil Kumble

ANIL KUMBLE unlike most of the cricketers was never in any sort of controversies. He is calm on the field, answering with a smile to the irritating questions that reporters ask but at the same time aggressive when u give him the ball, it always amazed me how Kumble turned to a Leg spinner from a Fast Bowler, infact even now he just deceives everyone as a Spin bowler, he is the only spinner I can remember who can bowl over 100Km/Hr Speed and who says a Tail-ender cannot bat, he has made a century and also some very important contribution over the last 18 years.

Kumble may not turn the ball as much Warne, Murali, Bajji and other very well known spin bowlers but he is the 3rd Highest Wicket taker in the world and the Most by an Indian. How can we forget the test match against west indies when he came out to bowl with bandage over his head and the jaw, he did take a few wickets including the rock solid Brian Lara making match more interesting more than all that it is his fighting spirit that he is known for.

What a joy it was when kumble took all 10 wickets against pakistan in Feroz-shah kotla, I can never forget Javagal srinath bowling away from the batsman so that only Kumble can get the last wicket, the Bangalore match when Javagal / Kumble together won the QuaterFinals against Pakistan as they scored some 30 odd vital run for the last Wicket.

He is one of the most respected if not the the only among his peers, he is quiet but he can truely support his team-mates when need be, remember the Test Match Controversies in Australia, he backed the indian Team.

He accepted Captiancy of Indian Team when the team was left orphaned after Dravid stepped down and Sachin did not want the role ( with all due respect to Sachin, he is much better as a player than a Captian).

A Bow to the legend and a Farewell Bid to the Most Calm Gaint of the Spin bowling.

Felipe Massa just misses and Hamilton gets to his First world Championship.

It was a Sunday and I didn't want to go anywhere today but had to go to Argos to return creative speakers that I had got. Soon after that I hurried home to watch the last of the Formula One Races of 2008 and the decisive one for the 2008 championship, boy it lived up-to the expectations of the decisive race. Start of the race and into a few corners David Couthard, the Man who has driven most races in the history of formula1 retired because of Nico Rosberg who hit him on the side, then it was under the safety car for a few laps.

It was a quiet race for Felipe Massa leading from the front, the title too far away from him now as Hamilton was always 4/5 on the track which would fetch with world championship anyway.

10 more laps to go and with prediction of rain, few drivers changed to wet tyres and few laps later there was a bit of rain, so being cautios all drivers changed to wet except for a few one being Timo glock and then on lap 69 it was Toro Rosso new hero who overtook Hamilton for 5th place and put Hamilton out of contention for the World Chhampionship, just less than a lap to go now and Felipe Massa won the race and it was now certain that Felipe Massa would be the winner but just 2 more corners to go for Hamilton, Timo Glock could not keep in on track and then Hamilton crossed the chequered flag in 5th place handing him the World Championship, It was too near yet too far for Massa, my heart goes to Massa. I was just shouting and screaming when Vetel passed Massa but then Seeing Hamilton cross the flag in 5th, I was just in tears and so was Massa, boy what a end to a thrilling race.

Congratulations to Hamilton but nothing to be taken away from Felipe Massa... he drove absolutely superb races but the Lady luck wasn't just there for him.. Lewis being in this situation last year deserves to be victorious. and thoroughly deserves the Championship and Wish Felipe Massa best of Luck in the future races.