Harbhajan Singh: "I can understand the [Australian] public wanting to support their team but I made them realise that I also played cricket the tough way" ©

Harbhajan Singh, embroiled in more than one controversy during India's tour of Australia, has, in separate newspaper interviews, criticised the Australian team for being "arrogant" and has also come out strongly against Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

This trip, he told the Hindu, was the most challenging of his career. "It was as if the series was Harbhajan Singh versus Australia."

Harbhajan was charged with - and subsequently cleared - making a racist remark at Andrew Symonds and said he was upset when Hayden and Gilchrist both supported Symonds.

He was quoted by the Delhi-based tabloid Mail Today calling Hayden "a big liar", though he later denied those comments. The paper also quoted him as saying Gilchrist was "not a saint".

He was, however, all praise for Brett Lee, saying he was different from his team-mates. "Lee never spoke in the same manner as the rest of his team-mates. He never uttered any nonsense to us and kept visiting our dressing-room even after Sydney," he said.

"I had always wanted to do well against Australia. We were all proud of ourselves that we did well in Australia. They are a dominating team but I have had a good record against them. I had to match their aggression and that is what I did."

According to Harbhajan, it wasn't just the Australian players, but also the public and the press, who were against the Indian team. "I can understand the public wanting to support their team but I made them realise that I also played cricket the tough way. I was not in Australia to make friends. I was there to play for my country and win. And win we did."

Enough is enough' - Sutherland

Cricket Australia upset by Harbhajan's remarks

Cricinfo staff

March 9, 2008


James Sutherland: "Despite assurances that you [the BCCI] have instructed him not to fuel this issue any more, Harbhajan Singh continues to say whatever he wants" © Getty Images


Cricket Australia has taken objection to Harbhajan Singh's recent outburst, when he labelled the Australian team "arrogant", called Matthew Hayden a "big liar" and said Adam Gilchrist was "not a saint". The remarks, which Harbhajan later denied saying, have been taken up by the Australian board with its Indian counterparts.

The Sun-Herald reported that James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, wrote a letter to Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, indicating his displeasure over Harbhajan's conduct. "Enough is enough," Sutherland was quoted by the newspaper. "Despite assurances that you have instructed him not to fuel this issue any more, Harbhajan continues to say whatever he wants. When will it ever end? Could you please deal with your player in regard to these comments?"

Harbhajan was at the centre of controversy during the tour of Australia, with Andrew Symonds alleging the offspinner made racial remarks against him during the Sydney Test, charges that were later dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Later, with the teams involved in the CB Series, Hayden called Harbhajan a "little obnoxious weed" on a radio show, for which he was quickly reprimanded. Cricket Australia now believes the same standards should be applied by the BCCI with regard to its players.

"We've tried over the summer to get the balance right in the way controversial comment has been managed and we certainly, through our actions with Matthew Hayden, been firm with our own players in terms of where the tipping point is," a Cricket Australia spokesman told the paper."We believe it is possible to make intelligent, thoughtful and even provocative public comment without descending to personal abuse."