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Siddhartha Talya at the Wankhede Stadium
February 5, 2013
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Preview : Eye on Test spots in Irani tie
Players/Officials:
Harbhajan Singh
Matches:
Mumbai v Rest of India at Mumbai
Series/Tournaments:
Irani Cup
| Indian Domestic Season
Teams:
India
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Harbhajan Singh has played just one Test since the end of the England tour in the middle of 2011 and made no pretensions about the fact that he's on a comeback trail and is keen to be selected for the Test series against Australia starting later this month. The Irani Cup game against Mumbai starting on Wednesday, he said, "is the best game I've got" ahead of the series to make a lasting impression.
"I just want to be relaxed and look to bowl rather than running after wickets," Harbhajan told reporters on the eve of the Irani Cup game. "The wickets will come, today or tomorrow, but my aim is to bowl well. I'm sure I'll get those rewards if I bowl well."
Harbhajan led Punjab in five Ranji Trophy games this season, picking up 16 wickets at 32.25. He has an impressive record against Australia, picking up 90 wickets at 29.35, and shot to fame against them in 2001 in a three-match series at home in which he collected 32 wickets. "I always look forward to playing cricket, whether it's against Australia or England or Mumbai. It's one of those things that's there in my blood. I want to be there, play cricket, and enjoy the moment. Australia, I've done well against them, if I get a chance to play against them I'll try to repeat what I've done against them."
At 99 Tests, Harbhajan is just one game away from becoming the 10th Indian cricketer to have played 100 or more Tests. Though he admitted it did play on his mind, his experience, he said, has taught him to not pay undue attention to such landmarks. "Somewhere it does get into your head, you're close to 100 Test matches, even when you're batting between 90 to 100 or when you've taken four wickets and looking to get five. But somehow as a player you just need to go with the game rather than thinking too much ahead. If you just concentrate on the process, things will automatically happen for you. If not today, tomorrow it will happen.
"Last year onwards, I've been trying too many things to play my 100th Test, but when I started playing I never thought I'll come this far. I've come this far because I was just looking to enjoy the game, just looking to go back into the whole system of trying to enjoy the game and playing with lot of passion, things will start happening."
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India is again going to the past and not looking at the future.. Bhajji has had so many chances and its time that the young spinners get s fair chance to show their capabilities... Anyway if Bhajji is to be given a chance(which should be the last one woud think), it should be outside the subcontinent because thats when he will be really tested... Infact this is the perfect time to get young blood as it would be a confidence booster as they have more chances of succeeding... Comeon Indian selectors, Bhajji already had his share of chances... Guys like Ojha, Ashwin, Amit Mishra need to be given a longer run... Going back to Bhaji (who turns the ball less than yuvraj these days) would mean that India doesnot have any spin talent left inn the country let alone the pacers... God help Team India... All the best..
His downfall is when he started focusing more on containing runs than picking wickets. I read somewhere Dhoni wanted someone to contain runs as other bowlers were not able to that. In doing that he lost his bite, he doesnt rotate it as he used to and the fact he plays a lot more shorter format has made him bowl flatter. he hasnt flourished under Dhoni as much as he did under Dada, and the fact that he enjoyed bowling with Kumble was a big reason for bulk of his wickets. A lot have already written of Ashwin, which is sad...Even Swann had to be dropped before he made a comeback. The truth is Ashwin will play many short format games and that won't help him grow as a Test bolwer. We see it happening with Bhajji.
@ROXSPOT this guy is given chamber because none of the other ipl heroes do not work.. And by the by spinner's prime time start at 32...
Posted by AjberTheGangulian on (February 6, 2013, 15:22 GMT)Everybody very keen to comment on young blood.. Just follow first class cricket for a month you all will realise not much of international standard left there.. Anybody can pass expert comments but reality is different
Posted by RK.Chandru on (February 6, 2013, 15:07 GMT)wish, selectors discard these players without getting influenced by these blabbers. He's finished and let's get to see some fresh faces in the test series ahead....
Posted by gnanzcupid on (February 6, 2013, 13:40 GMT)harbhajan should not b sitting here in the dressing room. he should have been in the stands cheering his ipl team.
Posted by siddhartha87 on (February 6, 2013, 11:04 GMT)bhajji and chawla are waste as spinners.I dont know what is bhajji doing in ROI squad.He doesn't deserve to be there
Posted by MVSegar on (February 6, 2013, 10:10 GMT)Well giving a chance to bhajji will be a step taken backward.We don't have Murali and Warne in India.We have Ashwin and Ojha alone.So let us try and get the best out of them.That would be practical rather than expecting Mishra/Chawla/Ashwin/Ojha to take a lot of fivers.That is not gonna happen.They are still new and they need guidance.But they are the future no matter how bad they are.Let us face it.Harbhajan,is not just past his prime but also been poor in Ranji this season.
Posted by 28041991 on (February 6, 2013, 8:08 GMT)i am sorry to say, but bajji's time is over... 1) he is not in form 2) even if he is in form , he cant be lethal and cant take wickets... 3) ojah is permanent in test, dhoni wont go against ashwin , even though i feel ashwin should not be in the ANY SQUAD of INDIAN cricket.... he is just IPL....
so there you go... no place for him....
Posted by MunafAhmed811 on (February 5, 2013, 20:25 GMT)Even my 11 year old nephew spins the ball nowadays more than Bhajji. I dont get it why these players refuse to accept that they are past their prime and new talented persons are ready to take over.