Harbhajan stokes controversy by calling Aussies arrogant

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India spinner Harbhajan Singh has stoked the controversy which engulfed him on the tour of Australia, describing the world's top-ranked team as "arrogant" and criticising some of their players.

"They (Australia) are an arrogant side," he told the Indian tabloid Mail Today. "They don't mingle with rival teams.

"We knew it from the start but we never expected them to give us so much crap on the field."

Harbhajan was embroiled in a racism row after being accused by Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds of calling him a monkey in the second test in Sydney.

He denied it and was later cleared of racial abuse by governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), but found guilty of the lesser offence of using abusive language.

Opening batsman Matthew Hayden was later reprimanded by Cricket Australia for calling the India off-spinner an "obnoxious weed".

Harbhajan returned home to a hero's welcome on Thursday after India had beaten world champions Australia 2-0 in the finals of the one-day tri-series.

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