July 30, 2007 - Surrey were quick to step in when Harbhajan Singh was surprisingly left out of India's Test squad for the tour of England but they also know every incisive over for the county pushes him closer to an international recall.

Harbhajan brought a Test-like intensity to his bowling against Worcestershire, taking all five second-innings wickets on Saturday in a heroic but unsuccessful attempt to convert Surrey's superiority into victory, as per Telegraph.co.uk.

Given that Worcestershire were on Friday made to follow on, the off-spinner's 63 overs, producing excellent match figures of nine for 128 on a slow pitch giving only grudging assistance, were akin to a single-innings workload. Alan Butcher, the Surrey manager, said: "He told us he wanted to bowl long spells and put himself back in contention for India."

The immediate reward for Harbhajan's on-the-spot industry could be a place in India's squad for next month's one-day series against England, though, according to Butcher, he is not optimistic. "He still feels he's a bit out of favour."

Worcestershire, 39 points adrift of safety, were kept afloat by Phil Jaques' restrained 220-ball innings of 103, and a third-wicket stand of 112 with Ben Smith, whose 66 was his best score in the championship of the season.

Surrey are 14 points behind seventh-placed Kent and could steal ahead in what Butcher calls "a vital game" at Canterbury next week.

Butcher is further encouraged by the return to fitness of experienced seamers Mohammad Akram and Jimmy Ormond.

Worcestershire will lose both Jaques and Doug Bollinger to Australia A in mid-August, though the departure of left-armer Bollinger, who has taken only eight wickets at almost 62 apiece in the championship, could be beneficial. Worcestershire have been checking on the fitness of the Indian seamer Munaf Patel.