Harbhajan hungry for more after 400th Test wicket

ROSEAU: India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he expected to continue tormenting batsmen for a long time, after becoming only the 11th bowler to capture 400 Test wickets in the third Test against West Indies on Thursday.

Harbhajan, playing in his 96th Test, finished with 2-26 from 15 overs to help India bowl West Indies out for 204 in their first innings.

He bowled Carlton Baugh Jr for the West Indies top score of 60 about an hour and 20 minutes after lunch on the rain-affected second day at Windsor Park to achieve the milestone.

"I'm only 31, and even though the last seven wickets have made me work harder, (I'm hopeful) the next 200 will come very soon," said Harbhajan.

"I have faced a lot of ups and downs in my career, mostly downs. I've worked hard for these wickets. Spinners mature with age. Most of them, be it Anil (Kumble) bhai, Shane Warne, or Muttiah Muralitharan, they took a lot of wickets after they turned 30.

"Time is on my side. I am still very young, and there is a lot of cricket left in me.

"I have to start doing even better for Team India and start taking a lot of wickets. If I keep myself fit, I will be able to do it."

The patka-wearing Harbhajan, whose nicknamed is 'The Turbantor', has not been his penetrative-best throughout the three-Test series in the Caribbean.

He seemed to look to the heavens in relief, when he captured the wicket, which brought to an end a counter-attack innings from Baugh that ushered West Indies past the 200-run mark.

He received a standing ovation from teammates in the players' viewing area in the Billy Doctrove Pavilion and from the modest, but appreciative crowd, as well as hugs and pats of approval from teammates on the field.

"It's not easy to take even one wicket in international cricket," he said. "Batsmen are watching you all the time.

"You have to keep adding variations. Just line and length is not enough. You have to make sure you are not left behind. Off-spinners now are coming on to bowl from 'round the wicket. You have to keep trying new things."

He added: "Batsmen these days come and play their shots. I remember 10 years back, all the bowlers were averaging 25, 26 or 27. These days the normal average is 30 plus.

"When I have my good days, I take wickets. On bad days, I try not to give too many runs."

Only former captains Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) have taken more wickets for the visitors than Harbhajan.

He is also the fourth spin bowler to take 400 wickets, following in the footsteps of fellow off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, whose 800 scalps are the most in Tests, Australia's Shane Warne (708) and Kumble, upon whom he showered high praise.

"Anil bhai was a very big bowler for Team India," he said. "After he left, there's been a lot of responsibility. The good thing is that Zaheer has been there to take some of it.

"I have the greatest of regard for Anil bhai. It was he who made us believe that we could win Tests abroad.

"I respect him the most. He was a great bowler and a greater individual. He has helped me a lot to become what I have today. I know when I need his help he is just a phone call away."

'Bhajji', as he is also known, made his Test debut against Australia 13 years ago in Bangalore, Harbhajan recalled his first Test wicket in his debut Test against Australia at Bangalore in March 1998 - Greg Blewett bowled for four with his 10th delivery.

He also pouched Wavell Hinds for his 100th scalp on the 2002 tour of the Caribbean, Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry was his 200th wicket, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, a batsman he once described as his 'bunny' was his 300th.

"I remember my first wicket - Greg Blewett," he said. "I also recall the doosra which got Michael Hussey in Bangalore.

"He left it outside his off-stump, and it came a long way to hit the off-stump. I thought only Murali bowled those kind of balls.

"Ricky Ponting, I got him many times, but he is a great batsman. Matthew Hayden, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh were all special."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011