For some bowlers, an encounter with one of the world's best batsmen on a flat pitch at Guildford would have been a true confidence crusher.
 | I've been told that I'm still in the scheme of things for the bigger tournaments, so I haven't ruled out the World Cup |
But Anil Kumble is no ordinary county debutant. And, making his Surrey debut, he was keen to shrug off his reality check and welcomed the challenge.
The 35-year-old Indian leg-spinner bowled 36 overs in the sweltering heat against Somerset and finished with 1-127.
They were meagre pickings for a bowler who has 533 Test wickets in addition to 1,006 first-class victims.
In his first County Championship outing, he was pitted against an in-form Justin Langer, who went on to make a record-breaking 342 in an innings spanning 10 hours.
"It was not a good start but things can only get better," Kumble said.
"When a guy of that calibre puts his head down and just waits for a good delivery to get him out, it is pretty hard.
"I almost got him in the first over when he very nearly knocked it onto the stumps but that was it."
As soon as Kumble made it clear last September that he was available to play for two months this summer, the offers started to trickle in.
But being in London with a side that had something to prove ticked all his boxes.
"I always wanted to play at The Brit Oval and hopefully after this hot weather, it will spin a lot more so I can take a few wickets and help Surrey get promoted.
"It is important to keep challenging yourself - both your game and the body - otherwise you tend to lose motivation."
One of his main motivations in 2006 is to play one-day cricket for Surrey and persuade his national selectors in India to consider him for the Champions Trophy in September.
| It is good for India and for cricket to have Sachin back... Opposition teams still fear him |
He has long been absent from the team's one-day squad, but that does at least leave him free to play for Surrey until the end of the season.
Kumble has not given up hope of playing one-day internationals.
He said: "I've been told that I'm still in the scheme of things for the bigger tournaments. So I haven't ruled out the World Cup.
"Being left out of the one-day squad did upset me after the 2003 World Cup and it affected my performance but I decided not to worry about it.
"I need to get some one day games under my belt but hopefully I will get some opportunities with Surrey."
Whether he plays in the World Cup or not, he is delighted to see Indian team-mate Sachin Tendulkar back after four months out with a shoulder injury.
"It is good for India and for cricket to have Sachin back," he said.
"He has had more than his fair share of injuries but he has coped with them all really well so he is bound to come back stronger for it.
"With his batting and overall skills and as a mentor for the younger lads, he brings so much to the team. Opposition teams still fear him and that obviously helps."
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