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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Harbhajan Singh has become an ineffectual component of the Indian attack, says former Proteas coach Mickey Arthur.
Not long after his resignation as South Africa’s chief mentor, Arthur has taken a guest columnist’s role for the Hindustan Times in India – and he singled out Harbhajan as a key villain in the home attack’s overall “lack of penetration” in their innings defeat in the first Test at Nagpur.
“Zaheer (Khan) bowled well but lacked support while Harbhajan, who has in my opinion been below his best for several years now, must be questioning his future.
“His bowling lacked the zip and sting that was so characteristic in the early years of his career. He must be honest with himself and the management and selectors must be honest too.
“There is no place for sentiment in Test cricket -- reputation and history should count for very little when selecting your best XI. (Leg-spinner Amit) Mishra bowled well but even he didn’t look likely to bowl South Africa out.”
The 29-year-old Harbhajan, once reverently branded “The Turbanator” and a veteran of 82 Tests, laboured for a haul of 2/166 in 46 overs against the Proteas at Nagpur, and in his previous Test against limited Bangladesh at Dhaka, claimed 2/123 over the course of two innings.
But if Arthur’s thoughts could add to pressure on the ailing off-spinner, he may yet be spared the prospect of the axe – he remains among a 15-man squad -- for the crucial second Test in Kolkata which India must win to hold onto the world No 1 spot.
Singh has a wonderful record at Eden Gardens, having claimed an eye-catching 38 wickets in just six Tests there at an average of 23.10. During that time he has bagged five five-wicket hauls.
And the last time South Africa played a Test there, the second of two encounters in 2004, Harbhajan was named player-of-the-match for his second-innings haul of 7/87 (and nine wickets in total) as the Proteas were well beaten by eight wickets to lose the series 1-0.
Cape Town – Harbhajan Singh has become an ineffectual component of the Indian attack, says former Proteas coach Mickey Arthur.
Not long after his resignation as South Africa’s chief mentor, Arthur has taken a guest columnist’s role for the Hindustan Times in India – and he singled out Harbhajan as a key villain in the home attack’s overall “lack of penetration” in their innings defeat in the first Test at Nagpur.
“Zaheer (Khan) bowled well but lacked support while Harbhajan, who has in my opinion been below his best for several years now, must be questioning his future.
“His bowling lacked the zip and sting that was so characteristic in the early years of his career. He must be honest with himself and the management and selectors must be honest too.
“There is no place for sentiment in Test cricket -- reputation and history should count for very little when selecting your best XI. (Leg-spinner Amit) Mishra bowled well but even he didn’t look likely to bowl South Africa out.”
The 29-year-old Harbhajan, once reverently branded “The Turbanator” and a veteran of 82 Tests, laboured for a haul of 2/166 in 46 overs against the Proteas at Nagpur, and in his previous Test against limited Bangladesh at Dhaka, claimed 2/123 over the course of two innings.
But if Arthur’s thoughts could add to pressure on the ailing off-spinner, he may yet be spared the prospect of the axe – he remains among a 15-man squad -- for the crucial second Test in Kolkata which India must win to hold onto the world No 1 spot.
Singh has a wonderful record at Eden Gardens, having claimed an eye-catching 38 wickets in just six Tests there at an average of 23.10. During that time he has bagged five five-wicket hauls.
And the last time South Africa played a Test there, the second of two encounters in 2004, Harbhajan was named player-of-the-match for his second-innings haul of 7/87 (and nine wickets in total) as the Proteas were well beaten by eight wickets to lose the series 1-0.
