Spinners the key for World Cup: Harbhajan

Harbhajan Singh, the Indian spinner, has predicted that slow bowlers will be the key in next year's World Cup. Coming off a lengthy tour of the Caribbean, Harbhajan's analysis was that the pitches had become spin-friendly and that India's experience there would come in handy in 2007.

"During our tour of the Caribbean, most of the pitches were slow and especially in the Test series, during the second innings the ball kept low and ultimately the batsmen were beaten," he told reporters. "Wickets in West Indies were similar to those in the Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka, which helped us in understanding its nature early."

While he admitted that the fast bowlers were crucial in India's 1-0 Test victory - "[They] Contributed to the success of spinners in the last two matches by their early breakthroughs which left less pressure on the spinners" - Harbhajan was sparing in his personal analysis. "My best is yet to come and I will try to do much better in the forthcoming tri-series [featuring Sri Lanka and South Africa]," he said. "From July 25, our camps will begin during which we will review our mistakes in Caribbean and ensure these are not repeated in Sri Lanka."

He also thought India came back well from the 4-1 one-day drubbing. "[Brian] Lara's able captaincy was the key to West Indies success in ODI series," he said. "Although we started in a very good rhythm, later on West Indies overtook us which yielded results in their favour." Harbhajan sought to downplay his exclusion from the first two Tests, saying it was up to the team management to pick the best eleven: "As far as I am concerned, I was eagerly looking for an opportunity which I finally got in third and fourth Tests and I proved my mettle in both of these."

Asked whether Sanath Jayasuriya, fresh from a superb one-day showing in the last two weeks, would pose a problem for India in the forthcoming series, beginning August 14, Harbhajan's reply was a confident: "Our Sachin is also coming back to respond to Jayasuriya."

On the Champions Trophy to be hosted by India later this year, Harbhajan remained confident. "Our pool will be the toughest as both Australia and England will be in our pool," he said. "But of course, we will have benefit of home ground and crowd support."