Mohammed Siraj has established himself as India’s tireless workhorse in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. The pacer has charged in relentlessly across the five-match series and is one of just two players to appear in every Test. The right-arm bowler has now claimed 20 wickets in the series. On Day 4 of the Oval Test, Siraj continued to charge in even though Joe Root and Harry Brook were going all out. Eventually, Prasidh Krishna took wickets at the other end, thanks to the pacer's persistent use of probing lines and lengths.
Morne Morkel, the bowling coach for India, has now disclosed that the 31-year-old wanted to play the game and represent India without Jasprit Bumrah, despite talks with Siraj about his workload before the Oval Test. Over 180 overs have been bowled by Siraj in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy thus far. Even though his body has suffered greatly, he has continued to charge in. The Indian pacer, who assumed responsibility for leading the attack, has shown his greatest qualities in Bumrah's absence.
“I said it earlier in the Test series, I’m very happy for Siraj that he’s getting the recognition. He’s a guy in that changing room who will lead the way; he’s a natural leader. Although vocally, he doesn’t speak a lot, I think he leads a lot with his actions," Morne Morkel told reporters after Stumps on Day 4.
“In this series, he’s done it with the ball at times when we’ve needed somebody to put his hand up and create something. Even if it was bowling an extra two to three overs or creating an opportunity for us, he’s been that guy,” he added.
In the first innings of the Oval Test, Siraj came back with four wickets, and he has already taken two in the second innings, dismissing Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley.
"He’s put in the effort, and it’s just nice to see the rewards and today again at the back end, stepping up, getting the support behind the team to lift us in the crucial moments, it’s those sort of smart plays that you need, and for me, Siraj has just been outstanding,” Morkel said.
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The management knew Bumrah will only play three Tests before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy even began. So Siraj took the initiative. It should be noted that Siraj participated in every game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
“I think he just enjoys that opportunity when it’s given to him, and he said it yesterday, he just loves playing for India and putting the shirt on and performing. That’s what you want from a fast bowler — an important series, five Tests, a guy that’s always willing to take the ball and a guy who’s always putting his hand up to say, ‘listen, I want to do it for the team'," said Morkel.
“Even before the start of the Test, there were conversations with him just to check in on how he was feeling mentally and how he was feeling physically because of the amount of overs. But he was the first guy to say, ‘Listen, I want to play this Test match, I want to win it for the team’. So not just the bowling front, but it’s the attitude for me that is great, and you’ve got a guy with an attitude like that, he’s willing to run in all day, I’m not surprised, that’s why he’s got the numbers,” he added.
All outcomes are possible as the Oval Test enters its fifth and last day. India needs four wickets to win, while England needs 35 more runs.
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