Bhajji eyes swift return from illness

Despite being clobbered by the Sri Lanka President’s XI batsmen for the second time in three days, the Indian bowling unit heaved a sigh of relief before leaving for Galle on Thursday.

Despite being clobbered by the Sri Lanka President’s XI batsmen for the second time in three days, the Indian bowling unit heaved a sigh of relief before leaving for Galle on Thursday.

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Minutes after the practice match was called off at the Colts Cricket Club, Sachin Tendulkar walked on to the centre wicket with coach Gary Kirsten for a brief session. As Kirsten was trying to make Tendulkar awkward with his throw-ins, out came Harbhajan Singh, the torch bearer of the Indian attack, and joined them in the middle.

Harbhajan, who missed training on the first five days of the tour due to a bout of fever, bowled for almost half an hour, as much as he did at the Nondescripts Cricket Club the previous day. Since he is recovering from a bacterial infection, it was obvious that he appeared exhausted at the end of the session.

But it was later learnt that the offie wasn’t at all in discomfort and is on course to be available for selection for the Galle Test, which starts on Sunday. Even a 70 per cent fit Harbhajan can breathe some life into the Indian bowling attack, which is already feeling the absence of injured Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth.