BANGALORE (India), March 30: India's most successful bowler, Anil Kumble, officially announced his retirement from one-day cricket on Friday, but said he will remain available for Test matches.

“It's been a long, 17-year journey at the international level,” Kumble told reporters here. “I may be over with one-dayers but I am definitely going to play Test cricket.”

The 36-year-old leg-spinner had said in February that the World Cup would be his last one-day assignment and informed team-mates of his decision soon after India's campaign ended in the tournament.

The Indians returned home on Thursday.

“I wanted to go out on a high after the World Cup, but that obviously did not happen,” said Kumble.

“Hopefully I will finish my Test career on a brighter note.

“One-day cricket is not a bowler's game, so I was always grateful when any wicket came my way.”

The leg-spinner had not been an automatic selection in the shorter game in recent times even though his 547 wickets in 113 Tests and 337 wickets in 271 one-dayers are the most by any Indian bowler.

Kumble, playing his fourth World Cup, got just one preliminary game against first-timers Bermuda as spin partner Harbhajan Singh was preferred for the more important matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid led tributes from the cricketing fraternity for the soft-spoken veteran, who made his debut in 1990.

“What Anil has performed for India over the last decade and a half has been legendary,” said Dravid. “He is one of our greatest cricketers.”

Former captain Kapil Dev, who held the previous Indian record of 434 Test wickets, said Kumble's hard work and dedication was a lesson for youngsters.

“Anil has really gone far than anybody could have imagined,” he said. “I never thought he had so much ability, but with time and determination he went beyond anybody's imagination.”—AFP