Harbhajan fit for Australia match


FE Team | Published: October 02, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00


KOCHI, Oct 1 (BBC): India spinner Harbhajan Singh has returned to fitness and will hope to gain selection in the second one-dayer against India in Kochi Tuesday.
Harbhajan missed the rain-ruined first match in Bangalore but was a regular in the ICC World Twenty20 triumph and has recovered from a neck strain.
Sourav Ganguly (hamstring) will be replaced by Robin Uthappa, though the latter must pass a fitness test.
Australia will hope their skipper Ricky Ponting can take his place.
He was another to miss out in Bangalore, having suffered a hamstring injury at the World Twenty20.
"Ponting is progressing very well," Gilchrist told reporters Monday.
"He was very close to playing in Bangalore. He has a good chance of playing tomorrow without necessarily being a certain starter."
Left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken should be available after a quick visit to Sydney for the birth of his first child.
Ganguly, 35, limped off the ground while fielding during Saturday's first match in Bangalore which was washed out with India on 9-1 chasing Australia's 307-7.
Scans revealed no serious injury and he is expected to take the field in the third game in Hyderabad Friday.
Indian fast bowler Sree Santh, who took three wickets in Bangalore, is aiming for a a five-wicket haul on his home ground.
He said: "Sachin [Tendulkar] has achieved it here twice. I would love to achieve the same."
Sreesanth has dismissed Matthew Hayden in the last two India-Australia encounters.

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