TEST SERIES IS WIDE OPEN: HARBHAJAN

Nottingham, Aug. 23: England’s batting lineup looks weak and vulnerable to both pace and spin bowling, says veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh, who backed India to clinch the five- Test series after their dominating 203- run win in the third Test here.

Lagging 0- 2 after losing the first two Tests, India produced a stupendous performance at Trent Bridge, registering a 203run win on Wednesday.

“The English batting line- up looks more problematic than the Indian batting at the moment. They are playing as if they are touring India, and not the other way round,” Harbhajan said on Thursday.

“Their batting line- up is more vulnerable to both pace and spin, and they look weak. Some of their first- choice batsmen have an ordinary record in domestic cricket, averaging 30- 35 at best.

“In India, you have to average over 50 to be even considered. They have good depth in ODI cricket but in Tests, their batting has not done much,” he added.

Harbhajan feels the Indian team copped a lot of unnecessary flak after going down 0- 2, but now at 1- 2, the series is still wide open. “It is not easy to come and play in England. You cannot say that previous Indian teams did better here. Apart from 2007, when did we last win a series in England? We tend to over- react easily and criticise too early.

“It takes time to get used to conditions in England. You can practice as much as you want but match conditions are different from the nets.”