The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Harbhajan confident

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Harbhajan confident

By S. Dinakar

BANGALORE, MARCH 30. Harbhajan Singh has learnt to smile his way through troubled times. The

Indian off-spinner, his exuberance not leaving him for a moment, remains confident that he will overcome the latest career crisis.

The Punjab bowler, reported a third time for an illegal action in his cricketing journey after the second Test in Kolkata, told The Hindu before leaving for Kochi for the first ODI against Pakistan, "It's always tough when you go through something like this time and again. I draw my strength from God and I know I will get over this phase."

Pulled up earlier by match referee Chris Broad for a doubtful action while delivering the doosra during the second Test in Chittagong last December, Harbhajan had his technique okayed by a panel of Australian biomechanics headed by Bruce Elliott, ahead of the India-Pakistan Test series. He admits to being "shocked" for coming under the scrutiny again for the doosra, the delivery from the off-spinner which spins away from the right-hander. Broad was the Match Referee this time around as well.

Says Harbhajan, "The information I got was that my action was all right in the first innings and it was not so in the second in Kolkata. As far I know, I did not change my action at all. But the Match Referee thought there was something wrong. I had just passed the test in Australia."

Harbhajan is pleased that the BCCI has sought some clarifications from the ICC.

"The Board has written a strong letter to the ICC. From what I gather, only when the Board gets the tape from the ICC will my 21-day period start (the next stage of the process where he will have his action analysed by an independent member of the ICC's bowling panel). I want to thank the Board for all its support. My team-mates have stood by me."

Best in business

The Sardar, who can continue playing till a verdict is announced, believes that the men who cleared him in Australia are the best in the business.

"They are the finest we have. Everyone who is having trouble with his action is going over there. Bruce Elliott and Daryl Foster have been in this field for more than 15 years. Once they found I was within the rules, I was happy, fresh, and looking forward to the series. What happened after that could have shattered my confidence, but I have kept my chin up. I have to concentrate on my matches."

About the tests in Australia, he reveals, "I had been reported only for the doosra. Once I went there, they said, we will check your off-spinner too, and I bowled that and all my other deliveries My reading was 12 degrees for my doosra and eight for my off-spinner. This is well within the 15-degree rule in place now. You cannot, with the naked eye, see how much the arm is straightening. I don't want to mention names, but you can have a look at the actions of some of the fast bowlers. Why are they finding fault only with the off-spinners?"

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