We can beat England: Harbhajan
India off-spinner supremely confident ahead of series.
NEW DEHLI:
India spin king Harbhajan Singh fired the first salvo ahead of the much-awaited series against an England side oozing with confidence after trumping Sri Lanka in both the Test and One-Day International (ODI) series.
The off-spinner, who just completed 400 wickets in Test cricket in the recently-concluded series against West Indies, said that a full-strength India had the resources to overcome tough conditions in England and clinch the upcoming four-Test series.
“From what I’ve read and heard, there’ll be lot of bounce and pace, and that we’ll get green wickets,” a confident Harbhajan said. “We don’t mind, as we know we’re capable of winning on any surface.
“We have the side to beat England in England or outside that country. We need to bowl the right length, whatever the wicket.”
India, forced to name a depleted squad due to injuries for the recent West Indies tour, will have their big names back for the series starting at Lord’s on July 21.
Batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh, and fast-bowlers Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth all return after missing the Caribbean tour. However, Harbhajan did acknowledge that their opponents will prove to be tough opponents.
“They are a good side and hopefully we will get the results we are looking for,” he said.”I’m not one who sets targets and says ‘I want to take the wicket of a particular batsman’. I’m playing against England and I want to take as many wickets as possible.”
‘Swann and Anderson the key’
Meanwhile, India batting ace Rahul Dravid has highlighted Graeme Swann and James Anderson as England’s star bowlers ahead of the series.
Fast-bowler Anderson is the unchallenged leader of England’s attack while off-spinner Swann is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading spin bowlers.
“Anderson has bowled really well,” Dravid told the The Cricketer magazine. “He’s been the trump card.
“Swann is a top-class spinner. We first saw him in England bowling here last time and the boys rated him. He’s come on leaps and bounds from then. Swann and Anderson are the key.”
India arrive as both the top-ranked Test side and the reigning ODI World champions.
But England, the third placed side in Test rankings, will be keen to replace India at the summit of the five-day game. The significance of the contest was not lost on Dravid.
“All series are important series, but this one is important because it’s between two teams that have had good recent records, which gives it a bit more context.
“It’s a hard one to call right now. England are playing at home, so they have that advantage. We’re a good and confident side and we’ve been playing good cricket over the last couple of years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2011.
India spin king Harbhajan Singh fired the first salvo ahead of the much-awaited series against an England side oozing with confidence after trumping Sri Lanka in both the Test and One-Day International (ODI) series.
The off-spinner, who just completed 400 wickets in Test cricket in the recently-concluded series against West Indies, said that a full-strength India had the resources to overcome tough conditions in England and clinch the upcoming four-Test series.
“From what I’ve read and heard, there’ll be lot of bounce and pace, and that we’ll get green wickets,” a confident Harbhajan said. “We don’t mind, as we know we’re capable of winning on any surface.
“We have the side to beat England in England or outside that country. We need to bowl the right length, whatever the wicket.”
India, forced to name a depleted squad due to injuries for the recent West Indies tour, will have their big names back for the series starting at Lord’s on July 21.
Batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh, and fast-bowlers Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth all return after missing the Caribbean tour. However, Harbhajan did acknowledge that their opponents will prove to be tough opponents.
“They are a good side and hopefully we will get the results we are looking for,” he said.”I’m not one who sets targets and says ‘I want to take the wicket of a particular batsman’. I’m playing against England and I want to take as many wickets as possible.”
‘Swann and Anderson the key’
Meanwhile, India batting ace Rahul Dravid has highlighted Graeme Swann and James Anderson as England’s star bowlers ahead of the series.
Fast-bowler Anderson is the unchallenged leader of England’s attack while off-spinner Swann is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading spin bowlers.
“Anderson has bowled really well,” Dravid told the The Cricketer magazine. “He’s been the trump card.
“Swann is a top-class spinner. We first saw him in England bowling here last time and the boys rated him. He’s come on leaps and bounds from then. Swann and Anderson are the key.”
India arrive as both the top-ranked Test side and the reigning ODI World champions.
But England, the third placed side in Test rankings, will be keen to replace India at the summit of the five-day game. The significance of the contest was not lost on Dravid.
“All series are important series, but this one is important because it’s between two teams that have had good recent records, which gives it a bit more context.
“It’s a hard one to call right now. England are playing at home, so they have that advantage. We’re a good and confident side and we’ve been playing good cricket over the last couple of years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2011.