Rediff

St Kitts, Jun 21: Indian captain Rahul Dravid has rebutted criticism over leaving out Harbhajan Singh for the first two Tests, saying Virender Sehwag as part-time bowler had performed the fifth bolwer's role efficiently.

"Harbhajan is a good bowler so when he is fit, he always comes into consideration. But then four bowlers did the job for us in the last game," Dravid said on Tuesday.

"In an ideal scenario, we would have liked to have five bowlers but Veeru has done the job for us. He adds an extra string in the bow for us."

Sehwag and the secret of success
The issue of Harbhajan is a live one among cricket fans and experts, for the Indian team clearly missed his services in the first two Tests.

The third Test starts tomorrow.

He bowled brilliantly in the preceding one-day series, was rested in the first Test though in the second was only half-fit when the game began in St Lucia.

In Harbhajan's absence, India played an inexperienced attack in the first Test. Between Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and VRV Singh, the experience was of no more than four Tests.

In the second too, Irfan Pathan was included but despite his two wickets, he didn't appear a frontline option for India.

The situation was saved by Virender Sehwag who picked up four wickets each in the first two Tests and provided breakthroughs whenever the team needed it.

Gavaskar compares Sehwag to Richards
His scalp included no less than that of Brian Lara and a certain Dwayne Bravo was shielded away from him.

"If Sehwag can keep bowling like that, it gives us extra options. He can play the relieving role, somebody like (Chris) Gayle he can be a reliever. It adds potency to your attack."

Dravid though wasn't the one who was too worried about the inexperience of his bowlers.

"These boys don't have much experience but they have done a good job," the captain said.

"Munaf has been brilliant in the series. Sreesanth bowled particularly well in the second innings (of the first Test).

Singh has shown a lot of promise and good ability.

"If we do the same thing what we did in the last two Tests, we surely would get result.

"If we get big scores and get them out cheaply in the first innings, and if we can keep up the good work in the second, we can give a good account of ourselves."

Dravid didn't read too much into the presence of grass on the strip in the middle.

"I am not the one who worries too much about grass. I rather look at the moisture content in the wicket, whether it can break up or if it slows up.

"There is still some time to the Test so I would have a better idea only around the time when the game starts."

The Indian captain felt the break after the second Test did a world of good to the players who were carrying niggles and injury.

"The holiday has ensured that there is a fit squad to choose from. The break has been a help in that sense.

"For me personally I could switch off from the game. I hope the benefits of break would show in the performance of the boys."