Test ends in a draw, as Kumble announces retirement by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Scorecard:	India v Australia
Event:	Australia in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 2nd November 2008

 

As day 5 was coming to a close came the news of Anil Kumble announcing his retirement.Kotla went into an overdrive. Arrangements were made to give Anil Kumble a fitting farewell.News spread and the public were caught completely unawares.And the credit must be given to the DDCA for acting swift.The focus completely shifted from the game to the man himself.He was taken on a lap of honour by his teammates with Zaheer Khan ,Rahul Dravid,Dhoni and Laxman lifting him on their shoulders.Ponting and the Australian team were gracious enough in their appreciation.

No drama on the final day
Coming to the match it petered into a tame draw.With nothing much in the pitch for the Fast bowlers of the Australian team India grafted inspite of losing Dravid early who was cleaned up by Brett Lee. But Gambhir got into a partnership with Sachin.They were involved in a 40 run partnership before Gambhir was unlucky to be given out leg before of Johnson.Sachin and Laxman were involved in another match saving partnership to take India to safety but Sachin got out edging White to Hayden at first slip.Laxman went on make yet another unbeaten half century to get the man of the match award.India declared at 208 for 5 setting Australia an improbable target of 245 of 22 overs.Kumble came to bowl for one last time in his career and the Delhi public saluted him.

A test match of missed opportunities
At the end of his last test match as Anil Kumble sits down and reflects he would also realize that it was a case of missed opportunities.His own injury made India play with 3 bowlers.On top of that at such a crucial drop of Michael Clarke when he had made just 21 led to India squandering its chances.After putting an imposing score of 613 for 7, India should have fancied its chances of winning the test match on a fifth day wearing wicket.But that did not happen due to dropped catches and shoddy fielding.Aussies were off the hook and they ended up with huge score of 577 just 36 runs behind.Everybody made contributions to make sure that Australia got out of a hole and they go into the final test still one nil down and still have a chance of regaining the Border Gavasker trophy.With Kumble out,Harbhajan still doubtful Saurav playing his last test and Laxman his 100th emotions will be running high for the Indian team and they will have to work very hard to win the series and the Border Gavasker trophy.