The Hindu : Harbhajan's costly blunder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 12, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Harbhajan's costly blunder

By Our Special Correspondent

ADELAIDE DEC. 11. A distraught Harbhajan Singh, who was to decide the destiny of the series, now faces the prospect of missing international cricket for six months.

The injury, which he thought had healed, has returned to haunt him. It has left him fighting the battle alone from the sidelines when he should have been in the middle.

The injury demanded a surgery when he travelled to Australia last July. But did not have one and that, he discovered on Thursday, was the blunder of his lifetime. The doctors had assured him he could continue to bowl but left the choice with him. "I was told that I could manage to bowl if I had the will power,'' said a dejected Harbhajan.

The Punjab cricketer had the willpower to carry on but repents the silly decision. It was a matter of six Tests — Two against New Zealand at home and four against the most dreaded team in the world. This was the series Harbhajan badly wanted to dominate.

But his passion to bemuse the aggressive Aussies was undone when he developed severe pain that hampered his bowling in the first Test at Brisbane. "I was shattered but continued" revealed Harbhajan.

Unwilling to take any chances, India has dropped Harbhajan from the team for the second Test beginning on Friday. The off-spinner has been left out of the 12 players shortlisted for the match, according to team sources.<137>

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