Ponting has no answer to Turbanator’s doosra

conversation happened as Harbhajan walked in to bat with India in dire straits during their chase of 204. Ponting is reported to have started it all by saying, “So you call yourself a batsman, let me see what you can do!” Harbhajan retorted by saying, “What are you talking about? How many runs have you scored? You get out to an under-19 kid anyway,” referring to Ponting’s repeated dismissals by Ishant Sharma.

Harbhajan’s tenure lasted a mere seven minutes and six balls at his personal score of four runs. But as the No. 8 batsman was walking back to the pavilion, certain F-words were coming from Ponting even as he rushed to congratulate Mitchell Johnson. Harbhajan was said to have been perplexed at the outburst and he let his final reaction be known after the defeat as he held on to Ponting’s hand and engaged him in a little chat.

Thankfully, nothing untoward happened after that little exchange and both teams have buried the banter. In fact, Australian coach Tim Nielsen has dismissed the issue saying, there’s no use of relating the past incident with this one. “It’s been a long summer and there is a bit of feeling between the sides. But it is no different from what has happened in 100 years of the game. Only because it’s between India and Australia, and Harbhajan and Ponting, people have noticed it,” he said.