The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Harbhajan getting ready for comeback

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Harbhajan getting ready for comeback

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28. Harbhajan Singh is gearing up to play the tweaker's role once again this season after a finger injury deprived him of a place in the team for the series in Pakistan.

"I'm in a better state of mind to resume bowling. I've started training and doing `nets' and hope to get back into the team at the earliest,'' said Harbhajan from Jalandhar on Wednesday.

Harbhajan had underestimated the gravity of pain in the middle finger of his bowling arm when pushing himself for the Australian tour. "I was keen to perform well in Australia after the series against them at home. Moreover, the 0-3 defeat of 1999 had rankled most of us and I was concentrating on erasing those memories. But I had not reckoned that the pain would increase to an extent that I would miss action for almost six months,'' said the off-spinner.

Harbhajan had been training after his last appearance for India in the first Test at Brisbane. "Before the Test I had not experienced any pain,'' said Harbhajan. He stayed on with the team until the series was over as he underwent rehabilitation under the scrutiny of Dr. Greg Hoy, the surgeon who treated Australia's leg-spin wizard Shane Warne for a similar injury.

Harbhajan soon found it impossible to even grip the ball in Australia. "Those were dark days. I was very frustrated not being part of the action. The pain was too much to bear but the words of the team members and the physio provided comfort,'' he said. "Things have improved. I do feel some stiffness when bowling now but I'm far more confident.''

The off-spinner has been bowling six to eight overs daily in his home town and following a schedule set by the India team physio Andrew Liepus and Dr. Hoy. "I know I just can't begin to bowl as I used to, but the process of returning to competitive cricket has begun,'' said Harbhajan.

In a week from now Harbhajan is planning to play for the Lashings Club in Kent, England. The club, known to have attracted greats like Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Brian Lara, is likely to provide Harbhajan with just the kind of competition at this stage of his comeback plan.

"I'm keen to play competitive cricket and that can happen only in England now. I've been negotiating with the Lashing Club and hopefully my contract will come through soon,'' said Harbhajan, who will play for the English club for a month, before he returns to India in the first week of July ahead of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Harbhajan will do well to remember the wise words from Anil Kumble, who had suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for almost the season four years ago. "Patience is the key factor,'' said the genial Kumble in reaction to Harbhajan's plans to return to competitive cricket.

"We had different injuries but the frustration was quite similar. It's a good thing for Harbhajan to play club cricket but he must guard himself against into a situation where he may aggravate the injury,'' said Kumble.

Speaking from Bangalore, the leg-spinner, who excelled on the tours of Australia and Pakistan, playing match-winning roles, cautioned Harbhajan: "it's important that he remains patient. He must also remain positive whatever the situation because in club cricket he may come across a batsman who may just club him around. Here, one must not get into a battle with the batsman. One must not push beyond the limits just to prove a point. What should be uppermost for Harbhajan is his fitness. He must concentrate on getting into the groove as soon as possible and not necessarily by pushing himself. It'll be hard because he has not bowled for a long time and Harbhajan should remember that when he steps on to the field. I know it can be a struggle but Harbhajan is an exceptionally competitive bowler and quite capable of reading the situation well.''

Kumble cited his own case. "I went about my return in a planned way. I used to bowl a specific number of balls in the `nets' and then take a break. I followed the schedule strictly and it helped me. I'm sure Harbhajan will remember what the physio would have told him to follow. He has to gradually increase his quota of overs. He must show restraint when pushed into a competition. That's the key.''

Harbhajan was quick to accept Kumble's advice and acknowledged it when he said: "I know he is one of my biggest well-wishers. I'll remember to be patient.''

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