Slapstick Bhajji gets timing right

Watching Harbhajan Singh bat is like watching a spoof of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Watching Harbhajan Singh bat is like watching a spoof of a Hollywood blockbuster. He has the gift of timing,he can be exotically wristy on the leg-side,his punch can beat a bowler in his follow-through,and he doesnt blink against the short ball. It seems that a few skills of the prolific top-order batsmen have rubbed off on Harbhajan because of his long association with them. But despite a passing resemblance with his colleagues in the Indian line-up,there is a strong hint of slapstick in his batting.

Those in the dressing room say that the off-spinner is a good mimic with an infectious sense of humour. That character profile seems apt watching Harbhajan at the batting crease. There are smiles of disbelief in the stands when VVS Laxman picks the ball from outside the off-stump to roll it past the mid-on fielder,but when Harbhajan plays what would qualify as an estranged brother of that shot,there are giggles all around. There is a slight difference in the reaction of the fielding side to the two shots,as well. In Laxmans case,the rival skipper has a resigned look on his face,but with Harbhajan,the first reaction is a smirk because the opposition captain feels a mishit is just around the corner. And slowly the smile gives way to frustration,and then to disgust,as Harbhajans audacity keeps increasing exponentially.

Thats what happened with Daniel Vettori on Friday as Harbhajans 60 helped India almost double their total in the last session from 190/5 at tea to 375/9 at stumps. In a country not too far away from New Zealand,there is a skipper who wouldve understood what Vettori was going through. In the last 15 months,Harbhajan has scored five half-centuries,of which four have been against Ricky Pontings Australia. As his average has risen in that period from 17.2 and 22.9,he has graduated from being a tail-ender to a genuine lower-order batsman.

Meaningful contributions

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Like everything about his cricket,Harbhajans batting is about spunk. It started during the infamous Test in Sydney,where Harbhajan scored a vital 60. His bat talked for the first time in a while then,but the match is better remembered for what he said,or didnt,during the course of the innings. Though India lost the match,Harbhajans three other fifties against the same opponents have ensured two draws and one win. The player who always showed promise with the bat in his decade-long career has finally started making meaningful contributions.

Conventionally the word entertaining is used for exciting knocks full of big hits,but Harbhajan gives a whole new meaning to the term. His fidgety approach,whole-hearted appreciation of good balls,his exaggerated follow- through,and his condescending leaves done with a half-mocking smile keep the crowd amused even when he isnt swatting the ball as if its an irritating mosquito buzzing around his ears.

Harbhajan was asked after his knock on Friday if he would like to move up the order. Why dont you put in a word for me? he replied with a chuckle.

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