Harbhajan unlikely to play in Test

PERTH, Australia -- Harbhajan Singh is set to be dropped for the third Test against Australia in Perth despite being cleared to play before his appeal against a ban for an alleged racist remark is heard.

The Indian off-spinner is considered surplus to requirements on the bouncy pitch at the WACA which favors pace bowlers, with captain Anil Kumble indicating that they would play a third seamer.

Flamboyant opening batsman Virender Sehwag is also set to return for Wednesday's match at the expense of out-of-form Yuvraj Singh.

Harbhajan's appeal against a three-Test ban for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a "monkey" will now be heard after the series but ahead of a one-day series which also involves Sri Lanka.

The furore caused by his punishment and a series of disputed umpiring decision led to Indian threats to pull out of the series, but a peace deal was eventually brokered.

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, who was dropped from the rest of the series after some high profile blunders in the second Test, is unhappy with the decision by the International Cricket Council.

"It's sad to be sidelined after make two wrong decisions from a record 35 appeals," said the 61-year-old.

Australia, who lead the series 2-0 after their victory in Sydney, are bidding for a record 17th straight Test win.

But they will have to do without inspirational opener Matthew Hayden who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury and will be replaced by uncapped Chris Rogers.

Spinner Brad Hogg, whose abusive language charge from Sydney was dropped by India late on Monday, was also replaced by fast bowler Shaun Tait as the home side go in with a four-man pace attack. E-mail to a friend