There’s one man in the Indian dressing room desperate to get a bowl on the fifth day, irrespective of the possibilities of win or draw. Harbhajan Singh started Monday’s proceedings by picking up three quick wickets that not only hastened the end of England’s first innings, but also made the race for most wickets this year interesting.

Harbhajan Singh now has 63 wickets this year, and is just one behind South Africa’s fast bowler Dale Steyn.

The Indian off-spinner has one innings to go this year, while the South African has five days of the Boxing Day Test against Australia still to play, but Harbhajan would be keen to put his name on top of that list, even if it’s for just three days.

Up and down

In 2008, he has played 13 Tests, bowled 694 overs, conceded 1962 runs at an average of 31.14 and an economy rate of under three.

But statistics rarely paint a complete picture. The concerns around Harbhajan’s bowling have been largely due to the big off-break that seems to have gone missing. Increasingly, he has been dependant on the doosra and the top-spinner.

He has been overshadowed in matches by little-known names such as Jason Krezja and Graeme Swann — and even the part-time off-spin of Virender Sehwag has looked more efficient at times.

He hasn’t registered a five-wicket haul in the twelve innings, and his last match-winning performance came in Galle.

It was a year that started with racism allegations, and he didn’t help matters by getting himself banned after slapping Sreesanth during the IPL, but now more than ever, India needs its most experienced spinner to return to his best — especially after Anil Kumble’s retirement.