An extraordinary decline

The Independent's Amol Rahan takes a close look at Ramnaresh Sarwan's astonishing decline in form, leading to his axing for the third Test against India. The visitors have a star of their own whose stock has dipped in recent times - their lead spinner, Harbhajan Singh.

Eleven days ago Sarwan turned 31. Harbhajan turned 31 yesterday. His figures were 14-3-31-1 and 19-2-42-1: ineffective. In March 2001, he took 32 wickets in three Tests against Australia – including the first Test hat-trick by an Indian – while none of his team-mates managed more than three. He was then a bowler whose stock ball turned sharply and drifted away from the right-hander, and whose whirligig, open action, which sometimes meant he bowled from beyond the vertical – ie 11 o'clock – induced terror in batsmen.