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India v England, 3rd ODI, Kanpur

I slowed it down in the air - Harbhajan

Cricinfo staff

November 20, 2008

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Harbhajan Singh: "The pitch was slow and turning a bit too. So I was trying to get the purchase from the pitch with minor adjustments" © AFP
 

Harbhajan Singh, who picked up his 200th ODI wicket against England in a man-of-the-match performance in Kanpur, has said the only adjustment he made was to bowl slower in the air to get more out of the turning pitch.

"In the earlier two matches the grounds were smaller and I had to attack the wickets," Harbhajan said after taking 3 for 31 to restrict England to 240. "But here I slowed it down in the air and it worked. The pitch was slow and turning a bit. So I was trying to get purchase from the pitch with minor adjustments. There was no change in bowling style otherwise; I stuck to the basics, concentrated on line and length. I am happy that I helped the team to win."

Harbhajan gave India important breakthroughs when he dismissed Kevin Pietersen (13) and Paul Collingwood (1) in successive overs. "I was not looking to contain the batsmen, I was looking for wickets. We knew if Pietersen and the likes of Collingwood stayed at the wicket for long they would put up a big score. Fortunately I was in the rhythm."

The win in Kanpur gave the hosts a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series but Gary Kirsten, the India coach, said there was no plan on how to approach the series from here on. "We just know what to do when we get up tomorrow and prepare for the next game. Now we head off to Bangalore and we will make sure we prepare to execute our skills as good as possible in the match there [on Sunday]."

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