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Harbhajan hungry for more success

Source: PTI
December 03, 2004 00:10 IST
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Spinning ace Harbhajan Singh, the architect of India's eight-wicket victory in the second and final Test against South Africa, on Thursday said he was hungry for more success and wanted to play an aggressive game that brought him rich dividends.

"I want to take even more wickets than what I am taking now. When I play aggressively, I get wickets. So I want to play like that," the off-spinner, who had a seven-wicket haul in the second innings and was adjudged man-of-the-match at Eden Gardens, said at the post-match press conference in Kolkata.

Attributing the victory to the team effort, the off-spinner said the South Africans were let down by the absence of quality spinners like Nicky Boje in their ranks.

"If Boje had been here, it would have been good for them. They had only two frontline bowlers and needed another two to do better in the series," the Punjab cricketer felt.

Though happy with his own performance in the two-Test series, Harbhajan said he rated his come-back series against Australia in 2001 as his best.

"2001 was a special year for me. I got the hat-trick against the Aussies at Eden Gardens and a match haul of 13 wickets...it was a comeback series for me against the number one side."

Satisfied with team India's performance, particularly in the Mumbai Test against Australia and in the Eden Test, the spinner said, "we are now looking forward to the Bangladesh tour and take on Pakistan at home."

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Commenting about the match, Harbhajan said the dismissal of Jacques Kallis in South Africa's second innings was the "turning point".

"Kallis is a great player and can play at any wicket. His dismissal was the turning point today."

Asked if he was disappointed over his appeal being negated by the umpires on several occasions yesterday, the spinner said, "I have to take it in good spirit. Umpires are also human beings and they did a good job here."

However, the bowler, who got the wicket of Shaun Pollock apparently from a bump catch taken by Gautam Gambhir, admitted that the ball had not hit the bat as he saw in television replay.

About the Eden track, he said "it was a very good wicket. There was something for all. (Makhaya) Ntini got four wickets. The batsmen also got runs. As for spinners, Eden track always helps the ball turn in the second innings."

He said that Eden had always been lucky for him. "In 2001, I got 13 wickets, against West Indies I got five and this time seven wickets. I am looking forward to play here again."

Asked about his aggressive attitude, Harbhajan jokingly said, "I am only 24 years old now. May be when I grow up, I will be able to control my 'gussa' (anger)."

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