Leading the pace attack in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj gave it his all in a remarkable display of pace bowling on not-so helpful pitch for the pacers. The big-hearted pacer from Hyderabad with good support from young Akash Deep ended with more than impressive figures of 6/70 in 19.3 overs.
What made his bowling more special was the way he helped India bounce back after a mammoth 303-run partnership between Jamie Smith and Harry Brook. He got the ball to swing and cleaned up the tail to hand India a crucial 180-run lead in the first innings.
The Man with a Big Heart
For a considerable time, Mohammed Siraj must have been contemplating what he needs to take to change his ‘bad luck.’ Since his debut in Melbourne in December 2020 (shortly after his father died in Hyderabad and he was unable to return home due to Covid-19 restrictions that would have barred him from rejoining the team), Siraj has shown nothing but big heart.
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His big heart is finally getting him some good luck as he was able to get wickets on a placid track like the one in Edgbaston.
Thrilled that he rose to the occasion when the team needed him most, in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, and grateful that at last, for all his dedication and intensity, there was tangible proof of his efforts.
Although he bowled the least overs among fast bowlers – excluding Prasidh Krishna due to his bouncer-heavy spell – Siraj frequently targeted the stumps, expected to strike them 28 times. He took three wickets during those deliveries.
Siraj is aware of it. He exists with these idiosyncrasies of the game. That’s why he can continue to participate with the same enthusiasm following a series of unproductive Tests. He will replicate this in the second innings. Show some patience if he doesn’t achieve similar outcomes.
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Leading the attack in Bumrah’s absence
While one of the world’s premiere fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was missing from the Edgbaston Test, Siraj took it upon him to lead the attack and bowled his heart out with immaculate consistency and at good lengths to produce desired results.
The charm of this great sport lies in the fact that while everyone fretted over Bumrah’s absence, Siraj steps in, begins as the second bowler following Akash Deep with both new balls, maintains his usual bowling style, and finishes with a six-for.
Prior to the third day of the second Test, Siraj’s most recent five-wicket haul in Tests occurred in January of the last year, on a challenging Newlands pitch, where he dismissed South Africa for just 55 runs on the opening morning. He recorded six for 15 compared to Bumrah’s two for 25.
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India will consistently aim to protect Bumrah carefully, and it is quite likely that he might not play all Tests in series of this duration again. Although figures seldom reveal the complete narrative, there’s an intriguing one that remains. Siraj has an average of 33.82 in Tests when Bumrah plays and 25.20 in Tests without him.
They are clearly not cause and effect, but a subtle indication that Siraj has frequently discovered something additional when prompted to take charge. With the lion-hearted bowling with due support from young Akash Deep, Mohd Siraj once again proved that he is a man with a big heart and certainly a captain’s delight.
