Aussies ready to renew Harbhajan hostilities

Updated September 27, 2012 11:38:37

For more than a decade Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has got under the skin of Australian batsmen and Mike Hussey is prepared for more of the same when the teams meet in a World Twenty20 Super Eight clash.

The build-up to the game against India at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium, which begins at 12.00am on Saturday (AEST), has been dominated by the return to form of spinner Harbhajan, who has a long history of antagonising Australian cricketers.

Harbhajan sprung to worldwide fame when he took a hat-trick against Australia in the famous Kolkata Test in 2001, after VVS Laxman's 281 set up India's remarkable victory, but infamously sparked a furore when allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a monkey during Australia's controversial Test victory at the SCG in 2008.

The veteran celebrated his first international appearance for more than a year by taking a national-record 4 for 12 last weekend against England, and Hussey says the Australians are expecting the talkative spinner to engage the Aussies in some verbal duels.

Australia's number three says he tends not to get involved with bowlers but admits combative opener David Warner may take a different approach.

"I prefer to walk away and not worry about it," says Hussey, 37.

"If he (Harbhajan) wants to use his energy up sledging and carrying on, that's fine.

"Some other guys really thrive on it. Davey Warner, he likes a little bit of interaction out there and it gets him going.

"So I don't think there is a right way or wrong way to handle it, but I think it's up to the individual to know he's going to try these tactics so you've got to be ready for it, and be sure it doesn't affect your concentration but handle it in your own way.

"I just think let him (Warner) go, let him play his way. That's what given him success so far."

Australia qualified for the Super Eights with wins in the group stage over Ireland and West Indies but they will find the going tough against India, South Africa and Pakistan.

The ICC has released its latest rankings following the completion of the World Twenty20 group stage, with Australia rising two spots to seventh and all-rounder Shane Watson up four places to a career-best third on the batting list.

Watson is also Australia's highest-ranked bowler at number seven.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka, australia, india

First posted September 27, 2012 11:03:43

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Dhoni not keen to talk about Harbhajan

Updated January 02, 2012 17:01:49

Captain MS Dhoni has refused to be drawn on whether India erred in not including controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh in its squad for the Australian tour.

Harbhajan has struggled in Australia, taking nine wickets at 73.22 in four Tests, well short of his overall average of 29.35 against the Australians.

But with an ability to get under the skin of opposition players Harbhajan's aggression and nagging personality could have been useful in shaking up Australia's inconsistent batsmen in Melbourne.

Harbhajan was dropped after a poor series against England in July and Dhoni was keen to endorse the selection of spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

"The reality is he's not part of the side and Ashwin has done really well for us in the last few games and the series we just played (against the West Indies)," said Dhoni ahead of the second Test beginning at the SCG on Tuesday.

"He's the best option as of now and he's the guy that will make the difference as of now because Harbhajan is not part of the side and people who aren't part of the side can't really have an impact on a particular Test series.

"I don't really think about it in that way."

Australia captain Michael Clarke says the wisdom behind Harbhajan's omission is not for him to comment on, but he believes the tourists have left out a personality player and a first-class competitor.

"You'll probably have to ask India if they're missing him, I've always enjoyed playing against Harbhajan, he's a tough competitor ... and still is a very good player," he said.

"I guess it's unfortunate for the Australian fans not to see him out here, he's an entertainer and a very good performer for India, so it's disappointing we don't have the chance to play against him again but in saying that India have got a lot of good players."

Harbhajan has been involved in some heated incidents with Australians, most notably the 'monkey' scandal at the SCG four years ago, when he was fined for allegedly making racist remarks to Andrew Symonds.

Both India and Australia have made it clear they are determined to avoid a repeat of that incident and Clarke and Dhoni insists relations between the teams are better than ever.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000

First posted January 02, 2012 16:55:17

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Harbhajan takes 400th Test scalp

Updated July 8, 2011 08:22:00

Harbhajan Singh became the 11th bowler in history to capture 400 Test wickets while Ishant Sharma again bowled impressively in the rain-lashed third Test between India and West Indies in Dominica.

India was 0 for 8, replying to West Indies' first innings total of 204, when a combination of rain and bad light stopped play early on the second day at Windsor Park, where only 49.2 over were possible.

Out of the statutory 180 overs that should have been bowled over the first two days, only 80.3 have been completed, as typically seasonal weather has ravaged the Dominica capital, hosting a Test for the first time.

Sharma, the most successful of all the bowlers in the series, upstaged Harbhajan, taking 5 for 77 from 21.3 overs.

His success followed up his 6 for 55 in the first innings of the drawn second Test at Bridgetown, taking his tally in the three-Test series to 21 wickets at 14.04 apiece.

Harbhajan, playing his 96th Test for the Indians, bowled Carlton Baugh for the West Indies top score of 60 about an hour and 20 minutes after lunch to achieve the milestone.

Only former captains Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) have taken more wickets for the visitors than Harbhajan.

He is also the fourth spin bowler to take 400 wickets in Tests, following in the footsteps of fellow off spinner Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka, whose 800 scalps are the most, Australia's Shane Warne (708), and Kumble.

Harbhajan finished with 2 for 26 from 15 overs and Praveen Kumar took 2 for 22 from 16 overs.

Before lunch India had continued to exploit the brittle West Indies batting line-up, removing Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels when play resumed 20 minutes later than regularly scheduled with the hosts on their overnight 3 for 75.

Munaf Patel struck in the fourth over of the day when Chanderpaul was slightly squared up by a perfectly-pitched delivery moving away, edged, and was caught behind by India captain and birthday boy MS Dhoni for 23, following a 49-run stand with Bravo.

Kumar tightened India's grip when Samuels, struck on the helmet by a short, rising ball from Patel, attempted a lazy drive at a delivery outside the off-stump and was bowled for 9 dragging the ball onto his stumps off the inside edge, leaving West Indies 5 for 99.

-AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, dominica, india

First posted July 8, 2011 08:21:00

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