World T20, Super Eights: Australia and the Harbhajan factor
“In the ongoing T20 Word Cup Bhajji has returned with a bang against the English. His next opponents are the Aussies against whom he had some epic battles and on most occasions Bhajji has been the winner. It is expected that Bhajji will prove critical against them tomorrow!” Writes Monika Arora
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| Harbhajan Singh is back !! |
His inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad was a pure gamble since he has been seated out from the national team for more than a year. Later in the month of August, this year, some wicket-cruising performances with English county team Essex have brought sigh-of-relief moment for veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Despite his chirpy but headlined career summary, Indian camp sound more feasible with Bhajji’s Man of the Match performance in the group match. A match winning spell of 4-wickets left England nowhere but amidst of 90-runs defeat being tagged with “Bhajji is back”!
The most reputed spinner of Indian contingent who has been considered as a lone match winner after legendary Anil Kumble’ retirement, it left a sorry state when the same didn’t happen. Debuted in International cricket at the age of 17, however, the X-factor of Harbhajan often comes up against the Australians vividly.
Being played under the shadows of Kumble and Javagal Srinath, Bhajji was never been considered as India’s first choice spinner until 2008. The grit and composure of Turbanator brought in-light by former skipper Sourav Ganguly where he has achieved enormous success.
In his entire International career, he has claimed 687 wickets from 351 matches out of which 114 wickets (from 46 matches) came up against Australia. When it comes to World cup, he has scalped 36 wickets from 39 matches out of which 3 wickets attained against Australia from 5 matches considering 6 world cup tournaments in the year 2003-2011.
After an ordinary performance in the Board Playing XI with 1/127, debuted in the 3rd Test at Bangalore; ended first break with 2/136 and a score of 4* including a duck.
A life-line to his test career, courtesy Kumble’s injury. A sheer collection of 32-wickets in that home series; under Ganguly, the rise of Harbhajan made him the first Indian to have a Test hat-trick – dismissed Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne in a row. He also managed his career Best Bowling in an Inning – 8/84 in the second inning of the 3rd Test at Chepauk.
His dream spell (in 2nd Test) ended Australia’s 16-successive winning streak in Tests whilst conferred himself with ‘Man of the Series’!
Grabbed 2 wickets in the final of 2003 world cup but could not stretch the Aussie win for long. He was given an edge over Kumble that time but the team batting led to sheer disappoint. Later in the year, delay in surgical finger forced him to stay out from competitive cricket for 5-month, which include India’s tour to Australia.
Returned in Tests against Australia, he managed 21 wickets from 3 matches with an average of 24.00 including three 5-wicket haul. The hot moment arrived in the 4th and final match of the series which ended on day-3 where the Australians strived shabbily in the second inning to 93 all out; Bhajji claimed 5/29 to seal the game which last for 202.1 overs!
Beginning of Australian downfall at the international arena where lots of whopping controversies took place including Symonds-Bhajji Monkeygate and Ponting’ raised finger. Bhajji, too, no more left a pure cricketer that year; trapped himself with SreeSanth Slapgate during the inaugural season of the IPL.
That year witnessed an all-rounder in Harbhajan’s spinning web – 4 half-century vs Australia in 6 Tests having 23 wickets in the kitty.
The said to be high time for Harbhajan who was now India’s first choice spinner. Sadly, exit of Kumble from competitive cricket left Bhajji as a failed case. His all-rounding ability derived him for huge sixes instead of trapping batsman with spin tricks. His economy rose-up ahead of pacers while the wickets tally has gone lesser than part-timers. Against Australia in 7-match ODI series, he managed 8 wickets with an Economy of 4.51 where Jadeja accumulated 6 wickets at 4.77.
First Test series against Australia where Bhajji was in the role of the senior spinner; arrival of next in-line spinners troubled him in the same way like he did during Kumble’s legacy. Kumble didn’t scrabble that time, but Bhajji was found confused. Pragyan Ojha straight away gave him tough competition as Bhajji ended with 11 wickets at 2.68 and Ojha maintained 9 with better ease of economy at 2.57.
Quite sour and pathetic year not for Harbhajan but for entire team India. His poor form in the recent past dropped him from the team along with some injuries fate.
Although, his career is full of disciplinary action – be it over-appealing to the umpire, snubbed media and photographers, an advert with Royal Stag where he appeared without turban or dispatching aggression after wicket dismissal, Harbhajan’s wicket-taking ability is no more a coincidence.
In the ongoing T20 Word Cup, Bhajji has returned with a bang against the English. His next opponents are the Aussies against whom he had some epic battles and on most occasions Bhajii has been the winner.
It is expected that Bhajji will prove critical against them tomorrow.
—
Despite his chirpy but headlined career summary, Indian camp sound more feasible with Bhajji’s Man of the Match performance in the group match. A match winning spell of 4-wickets left England nowhere but amidst of 90-runs defeat being tagged with “Bhajji is back”!
The most reputed spinner of Indian contingent who has been considered as a lone match winner after legendary Anil Kumble’ retirement, it left a sorry state when the same didn’t happen. Debuted in International cricket at the age of 17, however, the X-factor of Harbhajan often comes up against the Australians vividly.
Being played under the shadows of Kumble and Javagal Srinath, Bhajji was never been considered as India’s first choice spinner until 2008. The grit and composure of Turbanator brought in-light by former skipper Sourav Ganguly where he has achieved enormous success.
In his entire International career, he has claimed 687 wickets from 351 matches out of which 114 wickets (from 46 matches) came up against Australia. When it comes to World cup, he has scalped 36 wickets from 39 matches out of which 3 wickets attained against Australia from 5 matches considering 6 world cup tournaments in the year 2003-2011.
Timeline against Australia…
1998:
After an ordinary performance in the Board Playing XI with 1/127, debuted in the 3rd Test at Bangalore; ended first break with 2/136 and a score of 4* including a duck.
2001:
A life-line to his test career, courtesy Kumble’s injury. A sheer collection of 32-wickets in that home series; under Ganguly, the rise of Harbhajan made him the first Indian to have a Test hat-trick – dismissed Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne in a row. He also managed his career Best Bowling in an Inning – 8/84 in the second inning of the 3rd Test at Chepauk.
His dream spell (in 2nd Test) ended Australia’s 16-successive winning streak in Tests whilst conferred himself with ‘Man of the Series’!
2003:
Grabbed 2 wickets in the final of 2003 world cup but could not stretch the Aussie win for long. He was given an edge over Kumble that time but the team batting led to sheer disappoint. Later in the year, delay in surgical finger forced him to stay out from competitive cricket for 5-month, which include India’s tour to Australia.
2004:
Returned in Tests against Australia, he managed 21 wickets from 3 matches with an average of 24.00 including three 5-wicket haul. The hot moment arrived in the 4th and final match of the series which ended on day-3 where the Australians strived shabbily in the second inning to 93 all out; Bhajji claimed 5/29 to seal the game which last for 202.1 overs!
2007-2008:
Beginning of Australian downfall at the international arena where lots of whopping controversies took place including Symonds-Bhajji Monkeygate and Ponting’ raised finger. Bhajji, too, no more left a pure cricketer that year; trapped himself with SreeSanth Slapgate during the inaugural season of the IPL.
That year witnessed an all-rounder in Harbhajan’s spinning web – 4 half-century vs Australia in 6 Tests having 23 wickets in the kitty.
2009:
The said to be high time for Harbhajan who was now India’s first choice spinner. Sadly, exit of Kumble from competitive cricket left Bhajji as a failed case. His all-rounding ability derived him for huge sixes instead of trapping batsman with spin tricks. His economy rose-up ahead of pacers while the wickets tally has gone lesser than part-timers. Against Australia in 7-match ODI series, he managed 8 wickets with an Economy of 4.51 where Jadeja accumulated 6 wickets at 4.77.
2010:
First Test series against Australia where Bhajji was in the role of the senior spinner; arrival of next in-line spinners troubled him in the same way like he did during Kumble’s legacy. Kumble didn’t scrabble that time, but Bhajji was found confused. Pragyan Ojha straight away gave him tough competition as Bhajji ended with 11 wickets at 2.68 and Ojha maintained 9 with better ease of economy at 2.57.
2011:
Quite sour and pathetic year not for Harbhajan but for entire team India. His poor form in the recent past dropped him from the team along with some injuries fate.
Although, his career is full of disciplinary action – be it over-appealing to the umpire, snubbed media and photographers, an advert with Royal Stag where he appeared without turban or dispatching aggression after wicket dismissal, Harbhajan’s wicket-taking ability is no more a coincidence.
In the ongoing T20 Word Cup, Bhajji has returned with a bang against the English. His next opponents are the Aussies against whom he had some epic battles and on most occasions Bhajii has been the winner.
It is expected that Bhajji will prove critical against them tomorrow.
—
This article first published on cricketsoccer.com !
