'If Warne can, why not us?' - Harbhajan
Harbhajan Singh will be India's spin spearhead in the forthcoming home series against New Zealand
Wisden CricInfo staff
18-Aug-2003
Harbhajan Singh will be India's spin spearhead in the forthcoming home series against New Zealand. From then on, things just get harder for him as India travel to Australia. He spoke to the press at the conditioning camp in Bangalore.
On his finger injury
"The finger is getting better. The ligament had shifted but the break from the game helped me do strengthening exercises."
"The finger is getting better. The ligament had shifted but the break from the game helped me do strengthening exercises."
On his trip to Australia, where he was meant to undergo surgery
"I went to Australia because they know what cricket is and the doctor who has treated Shane Warne a couple of times said that I could go ahead and continue playing for one or two years without surgery and that the injury would heal with medicines and physiotherapy. I just took a chance and see how it went. If it is really necessary to have a surgery, I will undergo it. I am confident it will get better."
"I went to Australia because they know what cricket is and the doctor who has treated Shane Warne a couple of times said that I could go ahead and continue playing for one or two years without surgery and that the injury would heal with medicines and physiotherapy. I just took a chance and see how it went. If it is really necessary to have a surgery, I will undergo it. I am confident it will get better."
On bowling spin in Australian conditions
"I know that the conditions will be different in Australia. But I will be happy if we play good cricket in Australia. We can beat them if we play to our full potential as we have a very good side. We have been playing good cricket in the last couple of years. There will be something for the spinners from the third or fourth day. If Shane Warne can take wickets, why not us?"
"I know that the conditions will be different in Australia. But I will be happy if we play good cricket in Australia. We can beat them if we play to our full potential as we have a very good side. We have been playing good cricket in the last couple of years. There will be something for the spinners from the third or fourth day. If Shane Warne can take wickets, why not us?"
On the forthcoming New Zealand tour of India
"The New Zealand series is going to be an important one. We had a break from the game while they have been playing. We are going to play New Zealand straightaway and it is important that we do well against them. If we win the Test and the tri-series, that will be a great sign for us. We can go to Australia with a positive frame of mind."
"The New Zealand series is going to be an important one. We had a break from the game while they have been playing. We are going to play New Zealand straightaway and it is important that we do well against them. If we win the Test and the tri-series, that will be a great sign for us. We can go to Australia with a positive frame of mind."
On bowling in tandem with Anil Kumble
"Kumble is a great bowler and has been winning matches for a long time. Somebody has to fill in his shoes and I am happy to be doing a good job. Whenever I get a bowl, I look at taking wickets because as a bowler, you have to take wickets. Just taking two or five wickets is not enough but what is important is that the wickets help win the match for the country."
"Kumble is a great bowler and has been winning matches for a long time. Somebody has to fill in his shoes and I am happy to be doing a good job. Whenever I get a bowl, I look at taking wickets because as a bowler, you have to take wickets. Just taking two or five wickets is not enough but what is important is that the wickets help win the match for the country."