Harbhajan Singh in bowling action for Essex at Cheltenham College (Gavin Ellis/TGS)

Essex are hoping the newly-arrived Harbhajan Singh can help them climb the table

Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh will make his home debut for Essex when they face Hampshire in the LV= County Championship, starting on Thursday.

“Hopefully, we’ll get some decent weather this week at Chelmsford to give us the chance to start putting a winning run together,” head coach Paul Grayson told the East Anglian Daily Times. “We’ve got Harbhajan now, he’s fitted in really well and hopefully he’ll have a big impact on our season,”

Essex are currently 7th in the Division Two table but Grayson is optimistic that Harbhajan can help them mount a promotion challenge.

“The key will be to try and put back-to-back wins together, if you achieve that, then there is every chance you can move right up the table,” he said.