Bhajji sick of 'bad-boy' image

Melbourne, Sep 24 (UNI) India's temparamental off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is tired of his 'bad boy' reputation and wants a change of image during the home series against Australia which starts next month.

At the centre of last summer's race row with Andrew Symonds, Harbhajan said he was sick of being known as a trouble-maker and was ready to clean up his image.

''I am sick of all the bad-boy crap. I've no interest in hearing about how controversies follow me wherever I go,'' Harbhajan was qouted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.

''I'm going to stay away from all that. It's always important to learn from your mistakes. I've learnt my lessons, good and bad,'' he added.

The test will come on the field when emotions rise in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins with the first Test in Bangalore on October 9.

Harbhajan, with 291 wickets at 30.87 in 69 Tests, and leg-spinning skipper Anil Kumble loom as India's trumps against an Australian spin pair Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza who have both yet to play a Test.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has already declared his intention to improve his record against Harbhajan, who has haunted him for a decade.

The 15-man Australian squad will begin training today.

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