Harbhajan has new 'magic ball'
CricInfo, Bangalore
Harbhajan Singh has warned opposition batsmen to expect a new 'magic ball' when they face him next time. Talking to the media during the Indian team's fitness camp in Bangalore, Harbhajan said on Friday: "I have been working on a magic ball. I won't tell you [anything more on that]. You will see it definitely ... it is going to be a surprise." The 23-year-old Sikh, nicknamed the 'turbanator' after taking 32 wickets in a stunning 2001 home Test series victory against Australia, hasn't played competitive cricket for more than six months due to a finger injury which cut short his tour of Australia. However, he said that he was now fully fit after following a rehabilitation programme under the guidance of Andrew Leipus, the team physiotherapist. "I have started bowling since the last one month or so. I am feeling confident the way it's going. I have been working on fitness. Let's see how it works. I just can't wait getting into the middle." Talking about his prolonged absence from the game, Harbhajan said: "[Missing out on the series in] Australia was the most frustrating. I wanted to do well there. Unfortunately, I could not play the full series. I just played one Test and got injured," he said. "It was frustrating to sit out and watch." Harbhajan also indicated that he would play a few matches for Indian Airlines, his employer, to gain match-practice before the six-team Asia Cup one-day tournament starts in Sri Lanka on July 16.
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