By IANS
Perth : Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh could not be a part of the winning Indian side that halted Australian’s winning streak in the Perth Test but that hasn’t doused his spirit.
The off-spinner, speaking for the first time since receiving a three-Test ban for a supposed racist remark to Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), insisted that the events of the Sydney Test match helped galvanize the team and India’s victory at Perth can be attributed to them, The Age said Monday.
“Obviously it was a big factor, because when something like that happens, everybody feels they have something to prove,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by the Australian daily.
“We are one unit. Whether we win or lose, we do it together. And I think the boys proved that in beating Australia. It is always special to beat the No. 1 side in the world, but it is now important we build on this momentum and even the series in Adelaide,” he added
Harbhajan said with Perth Test victory India has eroded the invincibility of Australians. The present Indian side has the potential to put down Ponting’s side in the Adelaide Test, starting from Thursday. he added.
“We are a team that can beat Australia on any given day. There are teams out there who can beat Australia, and we have shown every time we have played them that we are one of those,” he said. “It is never one-way when we play them, because we play hard cricket.”
Harbhajan is well in contention for the Adelaide Test match while his appeal for the three-match ban is pending as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen to conduct a fresh hearing after the conclusion of the Test series.
Asked about his appeal, Harbhajan refused to comment. “I am not going to talk about that. I will let the relevant cricketing bodies handle these matters. I would just like to thank everybody who came and supported me and the team when there was a bit of drama happening.”