Harbhajan recalled for first Test

Recall ... Harbhajan Singh is included in India's first Test squad. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Harbhajan Singh, the fiery spinner who sparked the "Monkeygate'' scandal during the Sydney Test of 2008, has been recalled to India's squad for the first Test against Australia in Chennai on February 22.

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The 32-year-old offspinner was dumped during the home series against England earlier this summer but now could be set to form a three-pronged spin attack alongside Pragyan Ojha and Ravi Ashwin.

The cheeky Harbhajan, who claimed match figures of 5-102 for Rest of India in the five-day game against Mumbai which ended in a draw on Sunday, was happy to stoke the fire of the rivalry between the two sides.

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"I bowled really well (in the Mumbai game). Now I've got the opprtunity to play against Australia, my favourite team,'' he said.

"Hopefully I'll do well against them.''

Legspinner Piyush Chawla makes way for Harbhajan after Chawla went without a wicket in England's second innings of the fourth Test in Nagpur in December.

Harbhajan is remembered in Australia as the man who was suspended for three matches after his clash with Andrew Symonds in 2008. However the ban was reduced to a fine on appeal.

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The spinner's over-the-top celebrations after dismissing his "bunny'' Ricky Ponting have also left a stain on his standing within Australian cricket, although the pair will have the chance to work on their friendship when they play for the Mumbai Indians in April in the Indian Premier League Twenty20.

Harbhajan, who is one match shy of reaching the 100-Test milestone, praised Ponting after his November retirement from Test cricket and said the Australian is one of the greats of the game.

India's 15-man squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia doesn't included opener Gautam Gambhir, who has been axed.

Gambhir will captain India A in a three-day game against Australia in Chennai starting on February 16.

India squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ashok Dinda.

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