Kumble has 'new googly'

Anil Kumble has been the bane of batsmen around the world for long but ahead of the Test series the champion leg-spinner sent a warning to South African batsmen, saying he is still to unfold some of his more deadly weaponary.

Among them is a 'new googly' the genial bowler has been working on for some time and ready to deliver in this series.

"I have developed this (googly) over the years. It is not difficult to detect but it spins more," Kumble said.

Kumble, who returned to international cricket after recovering from a shoulder injury, said criticism that he lacks big spin hasn't troubled him much but he is trying out some different things and getting the ball to spin more would obviously help him.

"If you want to be consistently successful in international cricket, you got to vary and try new things... I have my own style of getting wickets," he said.

"One of the factors which would always help me is if I can spin the ball more... There is still time for me to work on new things which I would certainly do," he said.

Kumble, who, unlike others, perfers to bowl against the wind "because it gives you drift and also the dip", dismissed worries about his shoulder, saying it is in perfect condition and would easily take the stress of bowling in Test matches.

"I made sure that whenever I came back to international cricket my shoulder was hundred per cent (fit). Otherwise, I wouldn't have made this trip. I knew exactly what load it needed to take to play top cricket," Kumble said.

Kumble, who has for long been India's main strike bowler, said missing international cricket due to injury was "furstrating but I guess it is an occupational hazard".

Apart from thinking about adding new tricks in his bag during the break, he also helped young spinners like Harbhajan Singh hone their skills. He rubbished suggestions that helping newcomers meant increasing competition for himself in the team.

"I don't agree with that. I think people do share their experiences. I don't think if I share my experiences with some youngsters and he picks up wickets, I would not be in the team. Or that he becomes my competitor. Don't look at it that way. I would do whatever I can to help them," he said.

And the 10 wickets in an innings that he took against Pakistan in New Delhi remains his most memorable performance.

"It is the highlight of my career. People will always remember me for those 10 wickets... my name would always be associated with that."

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor