Harbhajan aims for all-rounder tag

Ashish Shukla

Having proved his credentials as a deadly off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh is now concentrating his energies on improving his batting too in order to become a potent all-rounder.

The 20-year-old, who earned the sobriquet of 'Turbanator' for his record 32-wicket haul in the home Test series against Australia, is making headlines on the Zimbabwe tour for different reasons.

Despite being the second highest wicket-taker for India in the Test series, it was his gutsy contribution with the bat in both the Tests that was more acknowledged.

"I think my footwork is not very good but my eyesight is very good. I can spot it [the ball] early," he says.

He said his crucial knock of 45 runs in the Madras Test against Australia has given him the confidence that he can get some runs too.

"The point is if you bat well in an international series once, you have the confidence to do it again. I said to myself: 'If you can get it against Australia, you can get it against any team'.

"In the Ranji Trophy too this year, I have made good scores. So whenever I got a chance to go in the middle, I always felt I could contribute 30-40 runs.

"There are a lot of improvements needed in my batting and I will try to improve more and more as the next few series are going to be only tougher," he said.

The emphasis on batting is in no way at the cost of his bowling and Harbhajan continues to be as impressive as he was during the Australian series though the number of his victims has certainly come down.

"After the Australian series, people expect me to take wickets whenever I come in to bowl. I take it as a positive sign. But the conditions and wickets here [in Zimbabwe] are different," Harbhajan, who has gone wicketless so far in the two one- day internationals in the triangular series -- after taking eight wickets in the two Tests -- said.

Harbhajan said he is happy with the way he is bowling in Zimbabwe, especially against Andy Flower, who has the reputation of being one of the best batsmen against spin and an awesome record against India.

"I am happy [with my bowling]. I did get him [Andy Flower] out in the second innings of the Harare Test," he said, adding, he had worked out a plan for the wicketkeeper-batsman, trying to make him drive all the time and not allow him to cut or flick.

The off-spinner is of the view that line and length are the essential weapons for any bowler and, when combined with subtle variations, it can yield results on any wicket, anywhere in the world.

"Line and length are the keys. If your line and length are good, you can take wickets anywhere in the world. But variations are also important. It is very essential that a spinner possesses them. If you bowl with variation, it would not be easy for batsmen to get going on any surface," he said.

Harbhajan described himself as an "aggressive" bowler and said he prefers someone who can restrict the batsmen to bowl in tandem with him from the other end.

"I always bowl to take wickets and not to contain batsmen. I don't get joy if I bowl 20 overs and concede only 30 runs. My feeling is, if I bowl 20 overs, I should have four or five wickets.

"I would love to have a bowler at the other end who keeps runs down to a trickle. It is a great help, because you know the batsmen would try to go after you and then you have a chance.

"When Anil [Kumble] bhaiya comes back, it would be great, because he is a big bowler and he has always done well for India in every condition. It would be great to operate with him," he said.

The Punjab youngster admitted that he is more comfortable bowling to right-handers than the left-handers, which is quite contrary to what other off-spinners in the game feel.

"I am different and it is because of a logical reason. Against right-handers, I can plan my attack better than against the left-handers. I am also not very comfortable going round the wicket."

But despite being a right-hander, it is Australian captain Steve Waugh who Harbhajan names as the most difficult batsman to bowl to.

"Steve Waugh has to be the best batsman I have ever bowled to. He seems to know much ahead what I would be bowling. I really enjoyed when I took his wicket in the last series.

"After the game was over, I went to him and said, 'You are a great batsman'. And he encouraged me by saying I was a good bowler as well," Harbhajan said with a grin.

He admitted that he is having problems adjusting to the kookaburra ball. "It is just a matter of habit. Someone like Shane Warne likes bowling with the kookaburra ball. I think we would have to learn fast how to bowl in these conditions. Moreso, since most of our cricket in the next season will be played abroad; so it makes sense to get used to kookaburra balls.

"I will be trying hard to use them at home, how to deceive batsmen in the air and keep a good line and length," he said.

That seems to be bad news for batsmen as Harbhajan looks all set to become, what match-referee Denis Lindsay says, 'a monster in the making'.

Mail Cricket Editor