“I had to wait for a long time"-Anil Kumble

CHENNAI: The appointment of Anil Kumble as India’s Test captain, announced in Mohali, has brought the champion leg-spinner long-deserved recognition in the twilight of his career.“I had to wait for a long time, but I think it’s better late than never,” said Kumble, who will succeed Rahul Dravid in India’s top cricket job. “It’s good to be shown faith and given the responsibility. I am sure I will get all the support from all my teammates.”
Kumble, perceived as the outsider in a two-horse race with one-day captain M.S. Dhoni, will assume responsibility in the home Test series against Pakistan, starting on November 22.On the 37-year-old’s capable shoulders falls the responsibility of guiding India through a period of change. “I hope to help the team achieve a smooth transition so that the younger lot can go ahead and move forward,” Kumble told Reuters on Friday. “I’ll try and do whatever best I can for the team so that we get a lot more consistent.”Kumble’s glittering record – he is Test cricket’s third-highest wicket-taker with 566 wickets in 118 Tests – and physical courage – evident when he bowled with a shattered jaw in Antigua in 2002 – have earned him the team’s respect, critical for any captain.True to his reputation for fairness, Kumble had kind words for Dhoni. “The team has done exceptionally well under him (Dhoni). The younger lot seem to enjoy each other’s company. He’s a mature person and has all the qualities (of a captain), that’s for sure.”This is Kumble’s first stint as Test captain.

Jamaican Cabinet official calls death investigation of World Cup cricket coach 'hasty'

Police may have spoken prematurely when they declared Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room during the Cricket World Cup, Jamaica's top security official testified on Friday."From what I have seen, they may have done things too hastily," Security Minister Derrick Smith told a coroner's inquest. He said he based that conclusion on an unreleased government report on the investigation into the death of Woolmer.The Englishman was found unconscious in a Kingston hotel room on March 18, a day after his Pakistan team was ousted by Ireland. Four days later a government pathologist ruled he had been strangled, launching an international murder probe.But several foreign experts later concluded that Woolmer died from natural causes, most likely heart disease, and in an embarrassing reversal, Jamaican police said on June 12 that Woolmer was not strangled.Jamaica's pathologist maintains that he died of asphyxia and pesticide poisoning. A forensic scientist recently testified that he found lethal amounts of cypermethrin in Woolmer's stomach samples, contradicting foreign experts who also analyzed samples and found no pesticide.
Coroner Patrick Murphy, who is presiding over the inquest, has ordered the samples re-examined.Also on Friday, former team fitness trainer Murray Stevenson testified that Woolmer told him he might retire because of the loss to Ireland and would delay his return to Pakistan until his disappointment faded.
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Cricket-Shoaib Malik retained as Pakistan captain

KARACHI, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Shoaib Malik will retain the Pakistan captaincy until December 2008, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.The 25-year-old all-rounder, who was appointed in April after Pakistan's poor showing at the World Cup, was granted a one-year extension by the PCB."Malik has shown enough promise to warrant more time as captain," PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters."He has led the team well and all the players are comfortable with him."We are looking to have continuity in the captaincy as this is instrumental in the improvement of the team. Malik is young and learning and the perfect choice," he added.Malik, who is leading the team on its tour of India, has appeared in 20 tests and 147 one-day internationals for the national side.Ashraf said the vice-captain would be announced on a series- to-series basis. Younis Khan is the vice-captain for the Indian tour.Ashraf added that paceman Mohammad Asif might be sent to Australia for treatment on the elbow injury which forced him out of the Indian tour."We have two reports on his injury. One specialist says he requires surgery, another feels he can recover without surgery. We have sent his reports to a top specialist in Australia and we are awaiting his response," Ashraf added.Asif also missed four of the five one-day matches at home against South Africa last month and pulled out of the Indian tour on the day the team left for New Delhi

Cricket-India selectors draw flak over new captain's term

MUMBAI, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The appointment of Anil Kumble as India captain for only three tests is too short to serve as a proper stop-gap arrangement, former Indian players say.Kumble, 37, was chosen ahead of one-day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Dhoni on Thursday and will skipper the side in the home series against Pakistan beginning later this month.India's highest test wicket-taker came into contention for the job after Sachin Tendulkar declined a third term as captain.Rahul Dravid quit as captain in September."A stop-gap arrangement is made for a specific reason. But I see no reason in naming Anil for just three tests," former test batsman and national coach Aunshuman Gaekwad told Reuters on Friday."The stop-gap move is appreciable as far as Dhoni is concerned, but not for Anil."Dhoni, 26, who led a young team to success in the Twenty20 World Cup, is widely acknowledged as the next generation leader.

However, many experts had warned that giving him the test captaincy would be too much, too soon. India face a tough test tour of Australia and host South Africa for a test series."They should have named him (Kumble) until the Australia tour at least. This move suggests they are not sure of what they are doing," Gaekwad added. Former chairman of selectors Kiran More also felt Kumble should have been given more time."Dhoni's an excellent captain, but he should play another year of test cricket before being handed the test reins," More told Reuters. "Given the situation, Anil was the best choice. He's experienced and hightly respected. But they should have named him for the next three series, which would have given the team surety and direction." (Reporting by Sanjay Rajan; Editing by Peter Rutherford) .