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ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, Monday (Reuters) - Anil Kumble's decision to bowl against West Indies on Sunday despite a broken jaw ranked among the most inspiring tales of valour on the cricket field, said former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar.

"Cricket has a way of producing inspiring tales of valour for the country and this ranks at the very top," Gavaskar said. "It is this spirit which is so refreshing and bodes well for Indian cricket."

Leg-spinner Kumble, who had been ruled out of the tour after his jaw was fractured by a rising delivery from paceman Mervyn Dillon on Saturday, bowled 14 overs in the fourth test on Sunday despite being heavily bandaged.

The 31-year-old from Bangalore, India's most successful current bowler with 318 wickets in 69 tests, conceded only 29 runs and captured the key wicket of Brian Lara (4) to put India in command.

West Indies were 187 for three at the close of the third day's play in reply to India's first innings 513 for nine declared.

"What was remarkable was the guts shown by Anil Kumble to come onto the field and bowl in spite of his broken jaw not being wired," Gavaskar said.

"Kumble had to do the bowling and that would have been extremely painful as the broken jaw was held into place only by a strapping."

Kumble is expected to fly back home for surgery within the next 48 hours and could be out of action for at least two to three weeks.

"He seemed to wear the Indian tri-colour on his chest," Gavaskar said.

"In the old days they used to say boys become men when they tour West Indies...Indian cricket should be proud of him and cherish his deeds."

Kumble took all 10 Pakistani second-innings wickets in early 1999 at New Delhi to equal the world record of England's Jim Laker and bowl India to a memorable victory.

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