India Vs. Australia Nagpur Test, Harbhajan removes Ponting to claim 300th Test wicket

by Sanjay Jha | November 7, 2008 at 02:28 am

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Indian spin wizard Harbhajan Singh , popularly called Turbunator, is one of the India's most successful offspin bowler. Initially accused of throwing , he balls with a windmilling, whiplash action. He has been very successful bowler against Australia. In March 2001, it proved too much for the all-conquering Australians, as Harbhajan collected 32 wickets in three Tests, including the first Test hat-trick by an Indian, while none of his team-mates managed more than three.

Harbhajan has had his share of his controversy. Harbhajan's rivalry with the Australians resulted in an on-field spat during Australia's tour of India in October 2007 but things boiled over in Sydney in January 2008 when Harbhajan was charged with racially abusing Andrew Symonds. He was given a three-Test ban but the charge was reduced, on appeal, to abuse and insult not amounting to racism and the ban was turned into a fine.

But today with Ponting's wicket, he became the third Indian and the fifth spinner to join the 300-wicket club.

Harbhajan Singh became the third Indian after Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble to claim 300 Test wickets when he clean bowled Australian captain Ricky Ponting to reduce the visitors to 74/2 in reply to India's 441 on the second day of the fourth Test in Nagpur.

After tea, Ponting (24) looked to cut the ball, but was too close to play that shot and was clean bowled.

This is wicket number 200 in India and wicket number 300 overall for Harbhajan and this is the tenth time Ponting has fallen to Harbhajan.

Harbhajan is only the third off-spinner in the world after Lance Gibbs (309) and Mutthiah Muralitharan (756) to take 300 wickets in Test cricket.