Lavishing praise on Anil Kumble [ Images ] for becoming only the third bowler to achieve 600 Test wickets, former Australian skipper Steve Waugh [ Images ] on Thursday said the veteran spinner may not have been a dreaded headline-hunter like Shane Warne [ Images ] but his quiet rise to prominence is no less admirable.

"Any fair-minded cricket fan would have enjoyed Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket even though it was Australia's [ Images ] potential saviour Andrew Symonds [ Images ]," Waugh wrote in his column for the 'Daily Telegraph' after the second day's play in the ongoing third Test.

• Kumble claims 600 Test wickets | Stats

"Kumble has taken 600 wickets with a fraction of the publicity afforded to Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] but he has been a much admired performer among his rivals," he added.

Waugh said Kumble has never been the talked-about bowler of his side but has delivered the goods consistently.

"He is not the type of player who gives you a restless night's sleep as you ponder his threat, but he is a specialist at ploughing through your dropped guard if you relax for the briefest moment," he said.

Waugh said he also admired the 37-year-old's fitness in a team "which is not renowned for their fitness."

"The Australian side greatly admire the way his last over of a marathon day is bowled with as much energy as his first," Waugh said.

• Images: India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2

On the ongoing match in which Australia's 16-match winning streak looks in danger, Waugh said pace spearhead Brett Lee [ Images ] will have to become the host team's knight in the shining armour.

"Brett Lee has become the world's No. 1 fast bowler this summer -- and this is the day he will have to prove it."

"It will need some special Lee magic to hoist Australia back into this Test after India's [ Images ] day of triumph," Waugh said after the second day's play saw the visitors take a 170-run lead.

"I am hoping for Australia's sake Lee has one last big surge in him in this match. He deserves to be rated the No. 1 fast man in the world with South African Dale Steyn [ Images ] the only quick I can put close to him, given the reasonably shallow state of world pace stocks," he added.