The Hindu : Sport : ‘I am sure I could end up with 500 wickets’

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‘I am sure I could end up with 500 wickets’

S. Ram Mahesh

Winning the series is more important than getting 300th scalp, says Harbhajan Singh

— Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW RESPONSIBLITY: After Anil Kumble’s retirement, Harbhajan Singh — who had a practice session with Sachin Tendulkar and the others on Tuesday — finds himself India’s most experienced Test cricketer after the Fab Four.

Nagpur: At 28, Harbhajan Singh finds himself India’s most experienced Test cricketer after the Fab Four, his 71 games and 299 wickets suggesting there’s greatness in the making. But the most frustrating thing about Harbhajan is that for his immense physical talent — a whip-lashing action that brings both turn at a speed quicker than the conventional off-spinner and bounce — he hasn’t imposed himself often enough on contests.

He has long been in training for this moment, that of assuming Anil Kumble’s role of most potent cutting edge at home and lead spinner overseas. Briefly, under Sourav Ganguly, he had unseated the great leg-spinner, his 32 wickets against Australia in 2001 inflating expectations.

But the hierarchy was re-established after the tour of Australia in 2003-04, and ever since, Harbhajan has pursued greatness elliptically. There have been moments — Galle earlier this year for instance — where he has shown mastery of his craft and that special ability to make things happen.

But there have been other occasions where he has seemed listless, unimaginative, and inclined to be defensive when attacked. With Kumble’s retirement, Harbhajan is forced to step his game up. How he responds will determine not just the fate of the fourth Test, beginning here on Thursday, and consequently the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but India’s aspirations for world domination.

Aware of responsiblity

Harbhajan, who has recovered from the toe injury that kept him out of the third Test, recognises the responsibility being the frontline spinner entails. “Anil bhai has retired now and those will be very, very big shoes to fill,” he said on Monday. “We all know how well he has performed for India and how many matches he has won. I have always enjoyed bowling alongside Anil Kumble and I will definitely miss him at the other end.”

The approaching milestone affords him the opportunity to look back at what he has achieved — and re-train his focus on the path ahead. “Obviously it has been a very, very long journey,” he said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs in my life and my cricket as well. I am very happy with whatever I have achieved so far. It would have been nice to get my 300th wicket in Mohali but I could not complete it there. I hope by the grace of God I will get my 300th wicket in Nagpur and I will try and bowl well for my country and win the series for the country, which is more important than me getting 300 wickets. And I am sure that if I keep bowling well, I could end up with 500 wickets.”

Ganguly, Zaheer miss practice

Harbhajan was part of the second batch of India’s trainees at the old VCA Stadium in Civil Lines, where several hundred braved the dust and the lathi to cheer their heroes.

Harbhajan began by bowling off four paces, focussing on slowing and completing his action to enhance over-spin. Soon he was bowling to Sachin Tendulkar on the centre strip, noticeably slower than the speed he usually adopts, forcing the great man to commit late.

Ganguly and Zaheer Khan missed practice — the former, who will play his final Test at the new VCA Stadium in Jamtha, suffering a spot of travel fatigue, the latter choosing to rest his body after the rigours of the third Test.

All the other members of the squad participated in sessions of ground fielding and catching (an area that cost them dearly at the Ferozeshah Kotla) in between working on their primary skills in the nets.

Staying focussed

Harbhajan didn’t think the inability to practise at the new stadium was anything to fuss over; nor did he see a fogging of the focus with the retirement of Kumble and the impending retirement of Ganguly.

“Gary Kirsten has visited the new stadium,” said Harbhajan.

“The whole team might go there tomorrow for a fielding session and get a feel of things. But we are not worried too much about how the wicket will be or whether it is a new ground and what will happen.

“Obviously when two big players quit in one series it will be quite different the next time around. But it’s very simple to be focussed; you just have to focus on cricket. If people are retiring it is their decision. As a team we are all looking forward to winning the series 2-0,” he said.

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