<p>“It is my first ten-wicket haul in Tests, I feel good. Since I am coming back from an injury, it was important for me to back into rhythm as soon as possible.”<br /><br />“I am still working on my fitness, especially in areas like throwing from outfield, so hopefully it will stand me in good stead in the coming months,” Zaheer said here on Wednesday.<br /><br />“In fact, time away from international cricket due to injuries was good for me as I was able to focus on a few things on fitness,” he added.<br /><br />The left-arm pacer picked up 15 wickets from two Tests to bag the man of the match and man of the series awards, but he said it was a collective effort that spurred team to win. “There was nothing much in the wicket for the bowlers, especially for the spinners. <br /><br />“As the match went on, the pitch got slower and it was the responsibility of pace bowlers, and I am happy that we were able to put our hand up and perform. In the last innings especially, our effort was tremendous,” he said. <br /><br />Zaheer said he was confident of firing out the Bangladesh lower-order that stood like a rock in front of India in the previous essays.<br /><br /> “We get some help with the kookaburra ball, especially in the sub-continent, and once it started reverse swinging, I knew we were in with a better chance.” <br /> <br /> Explaining his tactic to come round the wicket, Zaheer said, “It was reverse swinging and coming round the wicket was my option. The wicket was slow and I thought I had better chance to get wickets if I bowl from round the stumps.”<br /><br />Highlights<br />*Zaheer Khan (10/149) became the fourth Indian fast bowler to take 10 wickets in an overseas Test, joining Irfan Pathan (12/126 vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2005-06 and 11/96 v Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2004-05), Venkatesh Prasad (10/153 vs S Africa, <br />Durban, 1996-97) and Chetan Sharma (10/188 vs England, Edgbaston, 1986).<br /><br />* Zaheer’s ninth five-wicket haul was also his best figures in a Test innings. His seven for 87 bettered his previous best of five for 29 against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2002-03. <br /><br />* Zaheer extended his record of most wickets by an Indian paceman in a winning cause. Zaheer has bagged 121 wickets (average 25.64) in 31 Tests.<br /><br />*With Shahadat Hossain’s wicket, Harbhajan Singh became the third Indian bowler to claim 600 international wickets, joining Anil Kumble (956) and Kapil Dev (687). <br /><br />* Sachin Tendulkar extended his record by featuring in 55 Indian wins. <br /><br />* India have won five Test series in a row for the first time. They won 2-0 against Australia in 2008-09, 1-0 against England in 2008-09, 1-0 against New Zealand in 2008-09, 2-0 against Sri Lanka in 2009-10 and 2-0 against Bangladesh in 2009-10.<br /></p>
<p>“It is my first ten-wicket haul in Tests, I feel good. Since I am coming back from an injury, it was important for me to back into rhythm as soon as possible.”<br /><br />“I am still working on my fitness, especially in areas like throwing from outfield, so hopefully it will stand me in good stead in the coming months,” Zaheer said here on Wednesday.<br /><br />“In fact, time away from international cricket due to injuries was good for me as I was able to focus on a few things on fitness,” he added.<br /><br />The left-arm pacer picked up 15 wickets from two Tests to bag the man of the match and man of the series awards, but he said it was a collective effort that spurred team to win. “There was nothing much in the wicket for the bowlers, especially for the spinners. <br /><br />“As the match went on, the pitch got slower and it was the responsibility of pace bowlers, and I am happy that we were able to put our hand up and perform. In the last innings especially, our effort was tremendous,” he said. <br /><br />Zaheer said he was confident of firing out the Bangladesh lower-order that stood like a rock in front of India in the previous essays.<br /><br /> “We get some help with the kookaburra ball, especially in the sub-continent, and once it started reverse swinging, I knew we were in with a better chance.” <br /> <br /> Explaining his tactic to come round the wicket, Zaheer said, “It was reverse swinging and coming round the wicket was my option. The wicket was slow and I thought I had better chance to get wickets if I bowl from round the stumps.”<br /><br />Highlights<br />*Zaheer Khan (10/149) became the fourth Indian fast bowler to take 10 wickets in an overseas Test, joining Irfan Pathan (12/126 vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2005-06 and 11/96 v Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2004-05), Venkatesh Prasad (10/153 vs S Africa, <br />Durban, 1996-97) and Chetan Sharma (10/188 vs England, Edgbaston, 1986).<br /><br />* Zaheer’s ninth five-wicket haul was also his best figures in a Test innings. His seven for 87 bettered his previous best of five for 29 against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2002-03. <br /><br />* Zaheer extended his record of most wickets by an Indian paceman in a winning cause. Zaheer has bagged 121 wickets (average 25.64) in 31 Tests.<br /><br />*With Shahadat Hossain’s wicket, Harbhajan Singh became the third Indian bowler to claim 600 international wickets, joining Anil Kumble (956) and Kapil Dev (687). <br /><br />* Sachin Tendulkar extended his record by featuring in 55 Indian wins. <br /><br />* India have won five Test series in a row for the first time. They won 2-0 against Australia in 2008-09, 1-0 against England in 2008-09, 1-0 against New Zealand in 2008-09, 2-0 against Sri Lanka in 2009-10 and 2-0 against Bangladesh in 2009-10.<br /></p>
