Harbhajan Singh's 5 best bowling performances in Tests

With a tally of 694 International wickets (including Tests, ODIs and T20Is) choosing five of the best bowling performances of Harbhajan Singh takes a long laborious research. The Turbanator with his stellar performances and bucketful of wickets has established himself as one of Indian cricket history’s best spinners. .With 413 Test scalps, Bhajji ranks third on the list of most successful Indian bowlers in Tests and stands at 10th in the overall list of highest wicket-takers in the longer version of the game. While in the one-day format, he has 259 wickets in 229 outings. That makes him the fifth most successful Indian ODI bowler. The Punjabi also packs quite a punch in the shortest format of the game. In T20 Internationals, Harbhajan is the fourth most successful Indian bowler with 22 scalps in 25 outings.The 33-year-old also churned out crucial performances for Mumbai Indians in this season's Indian Premier League. Plying his trade in the 7th edition of the cash-rich tournament, the 33-year-old scalped 14 wickets in as many matches. The Turbanator was also miserly in giving away runs, ranking 6th on the list of the most economical bowlers in IPL 7 at an economy rate of 6.47. But the efforts went in vain as the rise of Ravichandran Ashwin has deemed him surplus to requirements, and he was recently ignored for India’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh and then England.Here’s to refresh your memories with some of the best performances by the Jalandhar-born spinner:

#5 Cape Town cameo

On a Cape Town track that showed signs of wear and tear since Day 3 of the 3rd Test, Harbhajan gave India hope of a rare series win on South African soil on their 2010/11 tour with a superb bowling performance.

After winning the 1st Test by an innings and 25 runs at Centurion, the hosts were talking of completing a whitewash against the visiting Indians. Harbhajan's match figures of 4 for 10 and 2 for 70 along with VVS Laxman's second innings 96 scripted a superb turnaround for India as they levelled the series 1-1 with an 87-run win at Durban. Now, it was a much-awaited encounter at the Newlands, Cape Town.

Old warhorse Jacques Kallis notched 161 to guide the Proteas to 362, after they had lost both their openers Alviro Petersen and skipper Graeme Smith with just 34 runs on the board. In reply, Sachin Tendulkar struck 146, his 51st Test ton, to guide India to 2 runs ahead of the hosts.

Starting from Day 3, Harbhajan started his cameo as he sent the South African top-order packing. Tottering at 130 with 6 wickets already down, it was only another ton from Kallis, his 40th (an unbeaten 109) that took them to 341.

India had to chase 340 on the last day, but an extremely cautious approach from the batsmen meant they were not in a mood to go all out for a win. India crawled to 166/3 in 82 overs as the captains shook hands signalling a draw. Thus in spite of Harbhajan's superb bowling performance, India spurned the chance to clinch a win at Cape Town and seal a historic 2-1 series win on South African soil.