Kumble puts positive spin on Surrey plans for ’06

LONDON—Surrey have signed India spinner Anil Kumble for the 2006 season, the English county announced. The leg-spinner will be available after India’s Test series against West Indies and is expected to make his debut against Northamptonshire on July 14.
“It’s great to have this opportunity to play for Surrey and it is something I am looking forward to immensely,” Kumble said in a statement issued by the county. “This is a new chapter in Surrey’s history and I want to help them get back on track to being a Championship winning side”.
The Oval-based team’s coach Alan Butcher, the former Surrey and England batsman, added that Kumble would play a key role in the club’s quest to climb out of the second division of the County Championship and back into the top-flight.
“Anil is recognised as one of the best bowlers in world cricket. In addition, his character and professionalism are also hugely admired. Any coach would welcome these qualities in his dressing room,” Butcher said.
“His presence will be a huge mid-season boost to us next year as we attempt to gain promotion to division one”.
Kumble, 35, is India’s leading Test match wicket-taker with 478 wickets at an average of 28.02 in 99 matches.
That includes a haul of four for 85 in the 188-run second Test win over Sri Lanka in New Delhi on Wednesday which helped him to match figures of 10 for 157, his eighth return of 10 wickets or more in Tests.
He is now set to make his 100th Test appearance when the third and final match of the Sri Lanka series begins in Ahmedabad in Sunday.
England are also likely to find themselves up against Kumble, who has previously had spells in county cricket with Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, again when the first Test of their tour of India starts in Nagpur on March 1.—Agencies