Harbhajan, Laxman looking forward to one-dayers

Indian cricket's newest stars VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh said in Chennai on Friday that they were both looking forward eagerly to the one day internationals against Australia. The five match series starts in Bangalore on Sunday.

Having tormented Australia in the Test series, off-spinner Harbhajan is now raring to have a go at them in the one-dayers starting on Sunday.

"I am excited," Harbhajan told PTI in Chennai today, adding that he was not suprised at being included in the one-day squad. "I think the selectors and the team management thought I will be able to carry on my good work in the coming one-day series against Australia," Harbhajan, who claimed 32 wickets - an Indian record for three-match Test series - in the just concluded series, said.

Harbhajan said he concentrated on maintaining an attacking line and bowled naturally. "I am an attacking bowler. I wanted to attack right from the first Test in Mumbai. Though we lost in Mumbai, I think I bowled well. Both Saurav (Ganguly) and coach John Wright gave me the confidence and instructed me to concentrate on my natural game. I concentrated more on off-stump as my attacking line and the rest was God's grace," he said.

Harbhajan said he had worked very hard to come back to the Indian side and his aim was to play for the country as long as possible. "After a long fight I could manage to come back into the side. My priority now is to keep India's flag flying high. I want to play for India for as long as I can."

Laxman too said he was keen to prove himself in the one-dayers

"I said my prayers" and decided that it was a case of now or never, Laxman said recalling his great 281 runs in the Kolkata Test that enabled India to humble Australia in the series.

"I thought this was the best opportunity and I should fulfill the confidence reposed in me by the captain and selectors," Laxman, who emerged India's highest scorer in the series with an aggregate of 503 runs, told PTI in Chennai.

"I must say I enjoyed my batting thoroughly. I am happy that I had a role to play for our victory in the series," he said.

Laxman, who was promoted to bat at the crucial number three spot in Kolkata to which he did full justice, said the opportunity was 'God's gift' for him. "When I was asked to bat at number three, I was more than happy and the opportunity given to me by captain (Saurav) Ganguly and the selectors was God's gift. It (promotion in the batting order) must be because of my having done well both in Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy at number three position."

Laxman said he was now looking forward to doing well in the one-day series where he has not been very successful till now. "Overall everything has come together and things are in place for me to prove my worth in the one-day series too."

Laxman said he had not been able to perform well against Australia in one-dayers last year but was confident of making amends this time. "I have got another opportunity to prove myself in shorter version of the game against the Australians. I am confident that I will do better," he said.