TESTS
 (including 27/02/2001)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50  Ct St
Batting               9   13   7    48   17*   8.00  36.92   -   -   2  -

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ
Bowling              315.4   65   942  25  37.68  4-121  -  -  75.7  2.98

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
 (including 30/09/1998)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave     SR 100  50  Ct St
Batting              13    5   2     9    4    3.00  47.36   -   -   2  -

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best  4w 5w    SR  Econ
Bowling              115      3   490  18  27.22  3-36   -  -  38.3  4.26

• Harbhajan makes history (12 March 2001)

• Harbhajan took his wickets with genuine skill: Prasanna (11 March 2001)

• My father would have been proud of my performance: Harbhajan (11 March 2001)

• Harbhajan makes history as India restrict Aussies (11 March 2001)

• Harbhajan exults after Warne becomes his hat trick victim

• Ganguly embraces Harbhajan after his historic feat

• Ponting departs, trapped lbw by Harbhajan

• Mark Waugh becomes Harbhajan's second victim

• Harbhajan Singh Hat Trick Celebrations

• Harbhajan and Mongia celebrate the hat trick wicket of Shane Warne

He is just 20 but already his career has had the ups and downs of a veteran. He has been in and out of the team, has experienced heady moments and disappointments on the field and his action has come under ICC scrutiny. It is to the credit of the young, bustling sardar that he has taken all this in his stride and has never given up hope. Indeed, the one quality that Harbhajan Singh is well known for is that he is a fighter to the core. For a purveyor of slow off spinners, his attitude is aggressive. And while this approach is to commended, in Harbhajan's case, it could also be tempered a bit.

Harbhajan's elevation to the India cap in 1998 was a major surprise for the 18-year-old was relatively unknown outside Punjab. An attacking spinner in the classical mould, he has not yet established himself in the side. The fact that he has not fully enjoyed the confidence of the selectors is one reason for this but his action being deemed suspect by the ICC has also stalled his progress. A stint with former England off spinner Fred Titmus seemed to have done him some good. Back among the probables for the series against Australia - the opponents against whom he made his Test debut three years before - it is to be hoped that his best results could lie ahead since he has youth on his side.

(Partab Ramchand)