The Turbanator runs into problems
Staff Reporter - 7 May 2002
Erapalli Prasanna, in his analysis of the third Test at Barbados,
mentioned that Harbhajan Singh needed to attack the batsmen much more.
A fine exponent of the off-spin art himself, Prasanna averred that
Harbhajan, as a wicket-taking bowler, should be plotting the batsman's
downfall with every ball.
Harbhajan Singh against all batsmen - West Indies first innings at Barbados © CricInfo |
A look at Harbhajan's bowling in the West Indian first innings
confirms this view. He returned figures of 34.5-7-87-3, so his fans
may argue that he wasn't completely ineffective. But his first wicket
was that of Carl Hooper after the West Indian skipper had plundered
115 runs off the Indian attack, and his other two were of Pedro
Collins and Adam Sanford, two minions in a woefully weak West Indian
tail.
Harbhajan's wagon-wheel against all batsmen in the West Indian first
innings is telling. Only 20 runs were scored off him in front of
square, whereas 23 runs went to the point region and 32 to square leg
- an indication that Harbhajan was bowling much too short.
A large percentage of an off-spinner's wickets come from making the
batsman drive against the turn, and although Harbhajan did make the
batsmen play to cover to the tune of 15 runs, that was not nearly
enough. His dropping short made it particularly easy for the batsman
to comfortably turn him behind square for runs; Hooper took 15 runs
off him in this manner.
As the sole attacking spinner in the side, Harbhajan should
undoubtedly follow Prasanna's advice. He can definitely do so by
flighting the ball more and keeping the ball up to the batsman.
Knowing that most of the West Indians are not too proficient at playing
spin, this tactic may help Harbhajan get back to his old ways of
bamboozling the batsmen.
© CricInfo