Cricket: Harbhajan's batting gets the front seat

Harbhajan Singh has benefited from batting coaching by team-mate VVS Laxman - but the most prolific off-spinner in test history may have solved some problems with his bowling.

After a long spell at the bowling crease in the first day of the second test, Singh had figures of none for 66 off 27 overs - adding to a puzzling dry spell.

But he took three wickets for eight runs in yesterday's first session to ruin a promising first innings for the Black Caps.

Indian cricket sources say Harbhajan has recruited Laxman as his personal batting coach.

Laxman was the best man to be out in the middle with the 88-test veteran as he eased towards his maiden first-class century in the first test.

End-of-over chats effectively became a forum for coaching tips that enabled Harbhajan to stay focused.

He says the most important advice was to avoid playing rising balls on a slow wicket.

The 30-year-old finally blazed a Daniel Vettori delivery over long-off for six and cemented himself in Indian cricket folklore as just the second No8 batsman in history to score a fifty (69) and hundred (115) in the same match.

He lies third on the list of most matches taken by a player to reach his first test century, behind Anil Kumble and Chaminda Vaas who took 118 and 97 tests respectively.

Harbhajan's batting prowess is more evident over the last 12 months than at any other time in his 12-year test career. He has averaged 20.57 in 11 tests compared to 17.01 in the previous 77.

The partnership with Laxman was worth 163 runs for the seventh wicket - the best ever seventh wicket stand for India against New Zealand.

However, batting is the area of Harbhajan's game he should be focusing on least.

Harbhajan has taken 31 wickets at an average of 44.25 in his last 11 tests.

Compare that to his 369 career wickets at an average of 31.88 - the most wickets by any off-spin bowler in test history.