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Harbhajan back in scheme of things for Indians
Bowling will be their main concern as Indians go into their second match in the triangular one-day series against South Africa in Pretoria on Wednesday seeking to avenge the loss in the first in Johannesburg on last Friday.
Bowling will be their main concern as Indians go into their second match in the triangular one-day series against South Africa in Pretoria on Wednesday seeking to avenge the loss in the first in Johannesburg on last Friday.
The thrashing that their bowlers took in the first game, eventually resulting in a six-wicket defeat after the batsman had put on a healthy 279 on board, has already prompted the Indian team management to recall off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan, who missed his first match after making a stunning return to the Indian side during the home series against Australia earlier this year, had been left out of the Johannesburg game considering the pace-friendly pitches in this country, which, the Indians thought, make the inclusion of two spinners a luxury they could do without.
However, one bad result seems to have changed that mindset and the youngster from Punjab, who has 35 wickets from 29 matches, is almost a certainty for Wednesday’s game despite the pitch here being considered to be even more helpful for the fast bowlers than the one at Johannesburg. It was still not clear who Harbhajan would replace in the team. The inclusion of Harbhajan is, at best, just one of the possible solutions to India's woes. The more significant part is the discipline from the other bowlers, notably Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, who were guilty of being very wayward in the first 15 overs of the first match.
Bureau Report
The thrashing that their bowlers took in the first game, eventually resulting in a six-wicket defeat after the batsman had put on a healthy 279 on board, has already prompted the Indian team management to recall off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan, who missed his first match after making a stunning return to the Indian side during the home series against Australia earlier this year, had been left out of the Johannesburg game considering the pace-friendly pitches in this country, which, the Indians thought, make the inclusion of two spinners a luxury they could do without.
However, one bad result seems to have changed that mindset and the youngster from Punjab, who has 35 wickets from 29 matches, is almost a certainty for Wednesday’s game despite the pitch here being considered to be even more helpful for the fast bowlers than the one at Johannesburg. It was still not clear who Harbhajan would replace in the team. The inclusion of Harbhajan is, at best, just one of the possible solutions to India's woes. The more significant part is the discipline from the other bowlers, notably Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, who were guilty of being very wayward in the first 15 overs of the first match.
Bureau Report