BANGALORE, March 22: Indian coach John Wright was wishing Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq well on the eve of the batsman’s 100th Test but was also hoping to “see his back” as soon as possible in the third match starting on Thursday.
“It is a wonderful achievement by a player whom I always enjoy watching; he has done a great job for his team and his country,” said Wright whose Team India go into the final Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium 1-0 up. “I wish him the best but we would like to get him out, the sooner the better.”
India with their remarkable 195-run drubbing of Inzamam’s Pakistan, are hungry as ever for victory. “We have got to win another one obviously, but it is a good situation to be in and particularly in Bangalore where the batting conditions are good.”
Wright’s boys are in the right frame of mind going into the match at a venue where India have lost the last three Tests. “Consistency would be important and I am sure we can start off with another good performance on the first day.”
Dismissing reports that quoted him as saying earlier on that his boys lacked killer instinct, he said: “It is false statement. In Kolkata we were in tough situations and the boys showed some real hunger to get a result. There were stages when the opposition put us under a lot of pressure but we finished a job there and now we begin here.”
Speaking about off spinner Harbhajan Singh, reported again by match referee Chris Broad for bowling the “doosra” a delivery which spins away from the right-handers instead of coming into them like a normal off-break, Wright expressed surprise. “I was a little surprised but I don’t think he has a lot to worry about it.”
Harbhajan was reported during the second innings of the Test at Kolkata, having earlier been cleared by ICC after being reported for a suspect bowling action while playing against Bangladesh in December. He went to Australia to work with bio mechanics expert Bruce Elliott and benefited from ICC’s latest ruling on chucking which allows bowlers to bend their elbows by up to 15 degrees.
Wright said that Harbhajan who took four wickets in Kolkata, had not been forbidden by the team management from bowling the controversial delivery. “Not at all, we expect him to carry on bowling the way he has been doing for 40-odd Tests.”
He termed Harbhajan’s reaction to the incident as natural. “Any one in such a situation would obviously react,” he said of the man known as the “Turbanator”.
“The contention that my “doosra” was clean in the first innings but illegal in the second is strange to say the least,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying. “I have been playing Test cricket for many years now and it is surprising that question marks are being raised about my action after playing 40-odd Tests and taking 190-odd wickers.”
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer denied that he had taken part in the Harbajhan episode. “It is unfair, this has got nothing to do with me whatsoever; my fight is for Shoaib Malik.”
Meanwhile, India have yet to decide on the composition of their team. “I had a look at the wicket and will have another one before finalising our 12 tomorrow and the 11 the day after,” Wright said.
Was his captain Saurav Ganguly’s form a concern? “I am sure he will get runs and I am confident that it is going to happen quickly. He has been striking the ball well, probably he will get good batting conditions here. He is a tough player. Ganguly has now gone 12 Tests without a century.
