da supremo： India’s match winning off spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that hisside can bring to an end India’s poor Test run abroad in theforthcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on Tuesdayin Galle
da bwin： Rex Clementine12-Aug-2001India’s match winning off spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that hisside can bring to an end India’s poor Test run abroad in theforthcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on Tuesdayin Galle."We haven’t done well in overseas, but we have an opportunity to doso here," said Harbhajan before adding: "I have been eagerly beenlooking forward to this series. It’ll be really good for us if we winit."Harbhajan’s confidence is buoyed by familiar conditions: "We areused to these conditions. This is my third visit to Sri Lanka.Conditions are similar to India and I feel like I am in Madras,although the humidity is higher. Even the pitches are similar."During India’s last home series against the world champions AustraliaHarbhajan excelled, taking a record 32 wickets including a hat-trick in just three games. India’s success ended Australia’s phenomenal 16match winning streak."That was a great series, for me and the team," he remarks. "I wasout of the side for 18 months and that was my come back. I am thankfulto Sourav (Ganguly) and John (Wright) for pushing for my case. Theyshowed a lot of faith in me."Things have not always gone well for Harbhajan and controversy hasalready dogged the young bowler’s career. Director Hanumant Singhexpelled him from the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore fordisciplinary reasons and he almost lost his job with Indian Airlines.He was also accused of having a suspect action.He now wants to put all that behind him. "I was out of the team andpeople started saying that I am a bad guy and all, but I know whathappened and I just want to forget that incident. It was like a baddream."Harbhajan came into the side against Australia only because of theshoulder injury to leg-spinner Anil Kumble and the insistence ofskipper Ganguly. He ended up being India’s highest wicket taker in athree match series.However, the 21-year-old off spinner claims limited responsibility."It’s with the grace of God that I achieved that feat. I am a firmbeliever in God and hopefully with the help of God there’ll be more 30wicket hauls to come."With everything going for him in the series against the Aussies, hestill had one disappointment. "My father was not with me to see meleading India to victory and taking a hat-trick. I missed him a lot.His only dream was to see me playing for India and he gave me a lot ofsupport, but when I performed well for my country he wasn’t there."The Aussies however are susceptible against off spin bowling andHarbhajan is aware that can’t expect for the same dream series everytime. Especially against a team like Sri Lanka who handle spin well.He himself admits that it will be tougher, but remains confident."The Sri Lankan players play spin well, but if I can get Sachin(Tendulkar) out in the nets and if I can get Steve Waugh out in themiddle, there shouldn’t be any problems with the other batsmen. Themain thing is to bowl a good line and length. If you do that, anyonecan get out."The sardar from Jullundur says that Indian leg spinner Anil Kumbleshould be given a lot of credit for where he is today: "I alwayslisten to Anil (Kumble). He has given me a lot of support and manytips in my career. Every time I have played with him I have learntsomething."The youngster has ambitions of being an allrounder. "In the homeseason I did well for Punjab with the bat, scoring about 220 runs infive matches. That, plus the 46 runs I scored against Australia, hasgiven me more confidence as a batsmen."Though keen to play down the much-awaited contest between him andMuralitharan, and despite much talk about green wickets, we can expectboth spinners to play influential roles in the series. In fact,judging by his form in the Coca-Cola Cup, the Sri Lankan batsmen aregoing to find him a real handful.
