Wright terms Harbhajan's case 'routine'

The mood in the Indian camp was upbeat despite yesterday's brouhaha over Harbhajan Singh being reported to the ICC for a suspect bowling action. "The mood has been pretty good," said John Wright, the Indian coach. "Harbhajan is the normal Harbhajan [laughs]. We are pretty relaxed."

The five cricketers who have flown in for the one-day series, plus Murali Kartik and Virender Sehwag, had a practice session at the MA Aziz Stadium, and Wright spoke to the media and explained what had happened. "After the match yesterday I was with the manager and we were handed the match referee's report that indicated that they felt that that Harbhajan, within six weeks, had to go through a film situation, where he can have his action filmed at various angles," said Wright. "I think it is routine and I think Chris Broad mentioned that a number of bowlers have had to do this recently. And so the matter is with our board. They have been sent various documents. Harbhajan, and all of us, are pretty relaxed. It seems to be one of those things that is part and parcel of the game these days."

An ICC media release pinpointed the doosra, Harbhajan's away-going delivery, for specific interest. "I suppose now they'll look at his whole action as well as his doosra. Obviously it is that delivery, in other instances, that is being questioned," said Wright. "I suppose they will look at all of his deliveries. He has been playing for a number of years now. And there have been other players who have gone through this test and are still playing so we're pretty relaxed about it."

Wright also denied that this was a big distraction ahead of the three-match one-day series that starts at Chittagong on Thursday. "Not really," said Wright. "I think the game has changed a little bit now with all these rules, and there is a stigma about those sorts of things. There may be new ways of scientifically looking at bowlers now. It used to be from the square-leg umpire. That's changed. He's just one of a number of bowlers who has been asked to go through this. I'm sure our board will be monitoring and keeping a close eye on it and have the players' best interests at heart."

As Wright spoke to the media the fringe players and one-day specialists went through a full net session, in the knowledge that they would get a game in the near future. "I have to talk to Rahul [Dravid], the manager, and Sourav [Ganguly], but the boys that have joined us will probably get at least two games out of three," said Wright. "Most of them will get a run in the first game. Some of them have played and some of them haven't. Joginder [Sharma] and [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni obviously haven't had the opportunity, but they're all exciting cricketers, and they've a lot to play for."

Wright added that India were looking to win all three games, making it two whitewashes in a row, and believed that experimenting with the team composition would not make a difference to this end. "Any side that we pick from the players that are here should be able to do the job. If we struggle in this situation, you know, that won't be good for us."