Mumbai : India’s senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday reached a landmark as he surpassed Pakistan legend Wasim Akram’s tally of Test wickets to climb to ninth in the all-time highest wicket-takers’ list. Harbhajan on Sunday dismissed Imrul Kayes for 72 to reach 415 Test victims, one more than Akram’s 414 from 104 matches. His final figures of 3/64 took his tally to 416 victims from 102 Test matches.
In fact, the Indian off-spinner reached the landmark quicker than Akram as the Pakistani took two more matches than Harbhajan to achieve the feat. The ‘Turbanator’ is now only 20 wickets short of beating Kapil Dev’s 434 Test wickets to become the second highest wicket-taker in history of Indian Test cricket after Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets.
One of the best phases
of my career: Ashwin
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, fresh from a five-wicket haul in the one-off Test against Bangladesh, is enjoying ‘one of the best phases’ of his career.
“It certainly feels that I am bowling at my best, it is one of the best phases that I have had. But I have said that in the past as well, so I might surprise myself again. Anyway the learning never stops,” said Ashwin when asked about his bowling. Ashwin further said, “I think one area I have improved on is that I am bowling better with the Kookaburra ball. Also, I have been trying to use the angles more. Overall, it was a wholesome performance here.”
India had two off spinners in the eleven with the return of Harbhajan Singh. Does Ashwin feel the competition? “As an individual, I just focus on how I can get better rather than thinking about the competition,” he added. PTI
Test rankings: India drop to 4th
India dropped a place to the fourth spot in the Test rankings, after playing out a rain-enforced draw against hosts Bangladesh in a one-off Test at Fatullah on Sunday. India, England and Pakistan each have 97 points, according to the latest ICC rankings. But India are ahead of the other two nations when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point. India have 97.47 points, marginally ahead of England on 97.33 while Pakistan have 96.75 points. South Africa heads the list with 130 points, ahead of second-placed Australia (108) and New Zealand (99).
