'Can't blame the spinner if batsmen don't score'
Saqlain Mushtaq, the former Pakistan offspinner, defends Harbhajan Singh in an interview with the Hindustan Times , saying the Indian batsmen simply haven't scored enough runs to support their lead spinner.
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Saqlain Mushtaq, the former Pakistan offspinner, defends Harbhajan Singh in an interview with the Hindustan Times, saying the Indian batsmen simply haven't scored enough runs to support their lead spinner.
He was on the verge of 100 Tests. He was a bit upset to get injured when it was time to play matches where conditions would have suited the spinners more. The criticism of Harbhajan has been unfair. Swann hasn’t done well either but no one is talking about him. He was bowling on the first day at Lord’s when conditions suited the fast bowlers and you are blaming Harbhajan. Not one, two or three years, he has done well for 12 years. The difference is their batsmen have got runs, yours haven’t. There is a negative sort of attitude against Harbhajan. With Murali, Warne and Kumble retired, for me, he is the No 1 spinner in the world. It is important not to confuse him.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo