Anil Kumble joined the 600-wicket club

Anil Kumble became only the third bowler to complete 600 Tests wickets when he dismissed Andrew Symonds on the second day of the Perth Test. He follows two of his contemporaries - Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne - in reaching the mark.

Captaining India can be a huge burden, especially when up against the best team in the world. Anil Kumble, though, as the cricket world has discovered over the last few decades is a cricketer who rises to the challenge in the face of adversity.

Kumble is the highest wicket taker currently in the series, the only Indian bowler who has consistently threatened the Aussies. Kumble announced his intent of leading from the front on day one of the series on Boxing Day - 5-84.

Over the years Kumble has been India's colossus; the man every Indian skipper turned to when a breakthrough was needed. He has been India's greatest match winner. In 41 Test wins he has been part of, Kumble has 279 wickets at an average of just 18.

Pakistan bore witness to Kumble's amazing skill. He ran though them on a memorable winter afternoon in Delhi - all 10 for 74 - only the second man to take ten wickets in an innings in Tests.

And who can forget the joy on the face of the man when he scored his first ever Test hundred against England at the Oval; the only hundred by an Indian batsman in the series.

Kumble's journey to 600 wickets

Wicket no.	Tests
200	47
300	66
400	85
500	105
600	124

Kumble by match innings

Innings	Wickets	Average	Strike-rate	5WI
1st	166	32.77	72.6	10
2nd	159	28.85	66.9	8
3rd	185	28.41	60.5	12
4th	90	21.31	50.9	5

Rahul Dravid took the catch that gave Kumble his 600th; the Kumble-Dravid combination has been the most successful bowler-fielder partnership (excluding wicketkeepers) for India. Their 54 dismissals is second only to the 65 dismissals by Mahela Jayawardene off Muralitharan.