I'm rearing to play against Aussies, it's a big game
Monday, February 10 2003 20:41 Hrs (IST)

Cape Town: With some of his most cherished moments associated with Australia, India's top off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Monday said he is prepared to torment the defending champion all over again when the two sides clash in an eagerly awaited match in Pretoria on Saturday.

"I am looking forward to meeting the Aussies on what will be a very big game. I am hopeful I would repeat the form I showed against them at home two years ago," Harbhajan said an interview.

India scripted one of its most memorable triumphs against Australia beating it 2-1 in the 2000-2001 Test series, completely dominated by Harbhajan – who picked up a record 32 wickets including a hat-trick in the epic Kolkata Test.

"It was a big series and the hat-trick was a very big moment for me. It doesn't happen very often but you don't know anything can happen in cricket," said Harbhajan who is all charged up to deliver the goods in his debut World Cup appearance.

Harbhajan said he had not worked out a game plan for the Aussies but "we would know what strategy to employ when we go there and actually face them".

The Saturday match would pit Harbhajan against one of the world's finest spinners Shane Warne, but the Indian tweaker was not willing to use the opportunity to launch a battle against any individual player.

"I am not in competition with Warne or for that matter against Saqlain Mushtaq, or against Muttiah Muralitharan or Daniel Vettori," Harbhajan said.

"My motivation will be to do well for my team, bowl economically and take as many wickets as possible."

The World Cup will see spinners of the highest class in action but their chances of succeeding on seamer-friendly wickets that assist stroke play are open to debate.

Harbhajan said the wickets and the format of the One-day game are such that it would be the batsmen's day all the way.

"However despite a galaxy of batting stars, a spinner can prove effective by bowling a good line and length," he said.

"Whatever practice wickets we have played on, they looked very good for batting. But spinners can be successful on wickets everywhere if they bowl a good line and length.

"Unlike a Test match where wickets deteriorate and a spinner gets help, in One-day cricket the wicket is going to favour batsmen and you need to be absolutely consistent in line and length... the margin of error is small," Harbhajan said.

"I think if you are playing as a bowler in this tournament, no matter whether you are a fast bowler or a spinner, you have to fight against odds and do well. You have to take responsibility. No matter where we are playing, in Australia or South Africa, if we have the talent we must deliver anywhere."

Harbhajan did not get much chance to bowl in India's last tour before the World Cup to New Zealand on wickets which were green and seamer friendly.

"I didn't get much chance to play in New Zealand but I have played in last three and a half years without break and I am confident I would do well here," said Harbhajan.

Harbhajan also sought to dismiss the team's defeat against Kwa-Zulu Natal in its final practice game as a one-off thing.

"We were very casual in that game but since then we have sat down and discussed and decided we would treat each game as the most difficult one of the tournament.

"I am confident given the kind of hard work we are putting in, we would do very well."

Harbhajan said his side would exhibit this determination even against lowly ranked Holland, which has qualified on the basis of being one of the three qualifiers from the ICC Trophy.

India will take on Holland in their opening World Cup game on Wednesday.

"We will not be casual against anyone, be it Holland, Bangladesh or Kenya. This is the biggest stage and we have to beat everyone," Harbhajan said.

Admitting it was an honour to represent India at the game's biggest show, Harbhajan said, "It's a special moment for me. It's an honour to play for India and participate in this World Cup. It's not the toughest assignment but nothing gets bigger than this. It will be great if I could perform well and contribute to my team's success."

Harbhajan said he was aware of the expectations of millions of cricket fans in India and he was ready to handle the pressure.

"Obviously there are a lot of expectations back home. But only those who handle the pressure well will give a good account of themselves."

PTI

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Spin legacy: Warne passing on trick of trade to Hogg