Cricket: Australians Tumble to Kumble

Australia's status as the best team in the world suffered a massive blow yesterday as they crumbled before a magnificent display of controlled wrist spin from Anil Kumble, who took seven for 25 in 63 balls to send them crashing from 136 without loss, with Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer resplendent, to 235 all out.

Kumble, with good support from Harbhajan Singh, gave India the upper hand as they seek to level the series after their defeat in the first Test at Bangalore. At the close India were 28 for one.

That wicket fell in last over of the day when Shane Warne had Yuvraj Singh caught behind. This put him level with Muttiah Muralitharan as the Test game's most successful bowler with 532 Test wickets. He has been level with Murali before. But today he will surely take the outright record, albeit briefly, for the first time.

But Warne, who went into this match with a record of 24 wickets at 51 apiece in India, with form and fitness concerns clouding his two previous visits, saw the gauntlet thrown down in the most challenging manner by Kumble, who reached 400 Test wickets in the previous Test.

The success of India's bowlers and Kumble in particular must be put in the context of the pitch. This one has considerably more pace and bounce - especially bounce - than the turgid strip in Bangalore. Kumble made it fizz through, with Michael Clarke, the brilliant tyro, learning what so many batsmen have learned before, that going back to this bowler is fraught with hazards.

Then there was the Peripatetic Principle. The Australians suddenly appear to be devotees of Aristotle, a great champion of walking, who used to teach philosophy while strolling about the Lyceum.

Yesterday three Australians - Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz - walked without waiting for the umpire's finger. TV replays confirmed Kasprowicz had been caught at silly point but David Shepherd was clearly going to give not out and was left shaking his head and blowing out his red apple cheeks with bewilderment.

Most Australian cricketers would rather be dragged up the billabong by brumbies than walk but Gilchrist opened up the issue when, after being reprieved by the umpire, he walked during last year's World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth. He also walked in Bangalore last week.

He said last night: "There's no team policy. It's an individual thing about how you want to play the game. But it's rubbing off. Three of our guys walked today and then Yuvraj Singh. It's got to be a positive thing for cricket."

But however well intentioned, Gilchrist could face problems. He has stated that he will not necessarily walk every time - evoking less than fond memories of Colin Cowdrey, a notoriously selective walker, who tended to march off when it did not matter but could not be removed without recourse to gelignite when it did.

When Gilchrist won the toss again yesterday the Indians - players and spectators - looked desolate. Sourav Ganguly desperately wanted first knock and when Langer, more fluent than last week, and Hayden, driving strongly, put on 49 in the first hour and 62 in the second - their 12th century partnership - the shape of the series appeared clearly outlined.

Then, shortly after lunch, Harbhajan dismissed Hayden, caught off a lofted drive, and Langer, who edged to slip, in the space of three deliveries.

Simon Katich and Damien Martyn suggested a recovery but never achieved it. Kumble suddenly found his finest rhythm and Australia lost their remaining eight wickets, the first seven to the leg-spinner, for 46 runs.

Yuvraj, who had looked a poor replacement for the dropped Aakash Chopra as a close catcher, hung on to one from Martyn and then Darren Lehmann was caught behind for a duck, his third failure in as many innings.

Kumble then took three wickets in as many overs. Clarke was lbw, Gilchrist was also caught close in by Yuvraj and Shane Warne thumped back a return catch that was smartly taken. Gillespie and Kasprowicz gave themselves out and the shambles was complete when the diving Glenn McGrath was run out.

"We're disappointed to have collapsed as we did, but credit to India," Gilchrist said. "And that was a devastating spell from Anil - it must rank up there with the great bowling performances. The first 10-15 deliveries are crucial in these situations and unfortunately too many of us couldn't get through them."