Not content with being his team's best bowling bet, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is silently preparing for a personal battle as well, as India take on Zimbabwe in the first Test starting here tomorrow seeking their first series win outside the sub-continent in 15 years.

Harbhajan will be up against Andy Flower, arguably one of the best players of spin in contemporary cricket and one who has troubled the Indians the most in recent times.

Flower is in tremendous touch having just equalled a world record of seven successive half-centuries, the streak getting broken when he was run out for 23 against Bangladesh in the Harare Test in April.

He has perfected the reverse sweep to deadly effect and has an awesome record against India, aggregating 848 runs from five Tests at a remarkable average of 169.60. He remained unconquered in half of these 10 innings and three hundreds and four fifties speak volumes about the ability of this left-hander.

Incidentally, the only Test against India where Flower could not manage a half-century in either innings was the one in which Harbhajan featured - the one-off Test in Harare in 1998. Though the young off spinner did not get Flower out, he had a five wicket haul from his 35 overs.

Harbhajan, who earned the title of 'turbonator' after destroying the Australians by claiming 32 wickets in three Tests, has his strategy planned out against Flower.

"There is no point in bowling defensively to him - he usually clouts them to the deep field," says Harbhajan. "He must be bowled up to and encouraged to drive all the time."

Flower is keeping his plans close to his chests but there is little doubt he has noticed the big tweak Harbhajan imparts in his spin and the kind of bounce he manages on the most dull tracks. Harbhajan has also developed a good drift and has hit the straps straightaway with a ten wicket haul in the three-day match against CFX Academy.

Coach John Wright and captain Saurav Ganguly too were anticipating a fascinating contest between the two and hoping that Harbhajan becomes the nemesis for Flower's exploits.

"It will be a good test for Harbhajan because Andy (Flower) is in a class of his own against the spinners," Wright said.

Ganguly was very pleased with Harbhajan's form. "He was simply superb against CFX the other day. He was getting the ball to bounce and getting a keen bite on what was really a dull track," he said.

Wright felt it would have helped the spinner a great deal had he got a supporting slow bowler from the other end who could keep the scoring in check. Harbhajan himself is not complaining though. He has a bounce in his steps and is obviously aware that success in this battle will add to the aura that has surrounded him since the Australian series.

© PTI