da bet esporte： Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is silently preparing for apersonal battle as India take on Zimbabwe in the first Test startingin Bulawayo on Thursday
da cassino： Staff and Agencies07-Jun-2001* Harbhajan has his strategy planned out against Andy FlowerIndian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is silently preparing for apersonal battle as India take on Zimbabwe in the first Test startingin Bulawayo on Thursday. Harbhajan will be up against Andy Flower,arguably one of the best players of spin in contemporary cricket andone who has troubled the Indians the most in recent times.Flower is in tremendous touch having just equalled a world record ofseven successive half-centuries, the streak getting broken when he wasrun out for 23 against Bangladesh in the Harare Test in April. He hasperfected the reverse sweep to deadly effect and has an awesome recordagainst India, aggregating 848 runs from five Tests at a remarkableaverage of 169.60. He remained unconquered in half of these 10 inningsand three hundreds and four fifties speak volumes about the ability ofthis left-hander.Harbhajan, who earned the title of ‘turbonator’ after destroying theAustralians by claiming 32 wickets in three Tests, has his strategyplanned out against Flower. “There is no point in bowling defensivelyto him – he usually clouts them to the deep field,” says Harbhajan.”He must be bowled up to and encouraged to drive all the time.”Flower is keeping his plans close to his chests but there is littledoubt he has noticed the big tweak Harbhajan imparts in his spin andthe kind of bounce he manages on the most dull tracks. Harbhajan hasalso developed a good drift and has struck form quickly on the tour,with a ten wicket haul in the three-day match against CFX Academy.* Indian players’ laundry bills problem solved: DiwadkarThe touring Indian cricket team’s laundry bills problem has beensolved on the eve of the first Test against Zimbabwe.BCCI President AC Muthiah had a lengthy discussion with the players onTuesday and the problem has been solved “once and for all,” BCCIexecutive Secretary Sharad Diwadkar told PTI in Mumbai on Wednesday.However, Diwadkar did not specify how the problem was sorted out andonly said the players have been asked by Muthiah to concentrate on theTest match starting on Thursday at Bulawayo.Soon after reaching Zimbabwe, the team had complained of insufficientdaily allowance provided to them by the Board. An allowance of $32(approximately $2000 Zimbabwe) was considered too inadequate by theplayers specially due the fact that laundry charges are very high inthat country
