Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh forced to wait to join 300 club

HARBHAJAN Singh will be forced to wait at least one more Test to join the exclusive 300-wicket club after being forced out of the third Test in New Delhi with a toe injury. While Australia's naming of under-performing off-spinner Jason Krejza in its 12 the day before the match proved nothing more than a ruse when he was made 12th man, Harbhajan is clearly troubled by an injured toe on his left foot and must be in doubt for the final Test, beginning in Nagpur next week. The only change to the Australian side from the second Test, which Australia lost by 320 runs in Mohali, was the return of Stuart Clark after an elbow injury, replacing debutant fast bowler Peter Siddle. Harbhajan's absence solved a conundrum for India, which was presented with an embarrassment of spinning riches going into the match. With captain Anil Kumble back from a shoulder injury, India was looking at dropping leg-spinner Amit Mishra despite his spectacular debut as a replacement for Kumble in the second Test. Mishra claimed 5-71 in the first innings and 2-35 in the second. Despite Kumble's injury struggles and his failure to take a wicket in the first Test at Bangalore, his outstanding record in New Delhi was always going to make him an automatic selection if fit. He has 55 wickets in just six Tests at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium at an average of 15 apiece and has won the past two man-of-the-match awards. This has been a major factor in India winning its past seven matches at a ground where it has not lost for 21 years. While India's new-ball pair of Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan have done much of the damage, claiming 23 wickets between them in two Tests, mostly with reverse swing, the spinners are likely to play a vital role in this match, with India to bowl last. Harbhajan has been struggling since the last day in Mohali with what coach Gary Kirsten described as an overuse injury. The off-spinner has been limping and did not join in warm-ups before play yesterday, watching as his team-mates went through their paces. With eight wickets in the series, Harbhajan has 299 and is on the verge of becoming just the third Indian to pass 300 wickets, behind Kapil Dev and Kumble. In a bizarre toss, Kumble won it twice. As if he was out of practice after MS Dhoni stood in as captain during the previous Test, the first toss ended up two wickets across and was called back by match referee Chris Broad. Amid much mirth between Broad, Kumble and Ricky Ponting, Kumble had a mock toss which he caught before another landed on the pitch. This time he was officially successful. The fact Australia even included Krejza in its 12 suggested the tourists were worried about the reputation the pitch has for aiding spin. It was always difficult to imagine him playing given the terrible mauling he received in a four-day tour match against an Indian second XI before the first Test. Krejza finished with match figures 0-199 from 31 overs. Even so there was earnest discussion between Ponting, coach Tim Nielsen and tour group leader and selector Merv Hughes before the toss.