Kumble Retires To Ovation

India's captain Anil Kumble is carried off by his team-mates after the end of the fifth and final day's play of the third Test cricket match against Australia in New Delhi November 2, 2008. Kumble announced his retirement after the match.

India skipper Anil Kumble has announced he will retire after the third Test against Australia, an Indian cricket board official said on Sunday.

The 38-year-old is Test cricket's third-highest wicket-taker with 619 wickets, trailing only Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia's retired Shane Warne.

"(Kumble) has conveyed his decision to the Delhi association president that he will retire after the game and will make his formal announcement after the match," an Indian official said.

Wearing a faded blue India cap, Kumble was given a guard of honour by his team mates before entering his favourite ground to bowl for one last time before retirement.

The fans at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium gave him a standing ovation and he was chaired off by team mates at the end.

In 1999, Kumble took all 10 Pakistan second innings wickets at the venue to become only the second test bowler to achieve the feat and bowl the team to a series-levelling win.

Kumble, who has played 132 Tests, had been facing mounting questions over his future and missed the second Test against the Aussies in Mohali due to a shoulder injury.

He also suffered a finger injury in the current Test, which ends in Delhi on Sunday, and only returned to bowl after having 11 stitches inserted.

In 1999, Kumble became only the second bowler in Test cricket to claim all 10 wickets in an innings, emulating England's Jim Laker at the same Ferozshah Kotla ground.