Harbhajan to miss Edgbaston Test

Harbhajan to miss Edgbaston Test
Harbhajan Singh, the Indian offspinner, has been ruled out of the Edgbaston Test against England because of a stomach injury he sustained during his team's 319-run defeat in Nottingham. Harbhajan has a grade one lower abdominal tear and is expected to be out of action for 10-12 days.
Harbhajan's absence will give the legspinner Amit Mishra an opportunity in Birmingham, unless India decide to play a four-seamer attack provided Zaheer Khan is fit. An all-pace attack is unlikely, though, given India's problems with maintaining a proper over-rate.
The injury means that Harbhajan will have to wait until later in the year to play his 100th Test. He is currently on 98 and would have reached the landmark at The Oval, the venue of the final Test of the series.
Harbhajan bowled only 13.4 overs at Trent Bridge and his absence during England's second innings increased the workload of India's seam attack. He's also been in poor form, taking 1 for 69 in the second Test after conceding 1 for 218 in the first at Lord's.
India have plenty of other fitness concerns as well. Yuvraj Singh, who played at Trent Bridge because of the elbow injury to Gautam Gambhir, was hit on his left hand in the final innings by a short ball from Tim Bresnan. He was scheduled to consult a specialist in London about his injury.

India are also waiting to see what sort of fitness and form Virender Sehwag is in. He missed the first two Tests while recovering from shoulder surgery and is expected to join the team this week and play the tour game in Northamptonshire.
It is not yet clear whether Zaheer, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Lord's Test after bowling only 13.3 overs and missed Trent Bridge, will be fit to play at Edgbaston. Gambhir, however, is expected to return at the top of the order.
India play a two-day tour game against Northamptonshire on August 5 and 6, ahead of the third Test from August 10. India trail 0-2 in the four-match series.