Kangaroos in trouble: Mohammad Siraj's swing promises 'pink victory' in day-night test
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): While strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the hero in India's spectacular victory in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Test series in Perth, there was another positive sign for the fast bowling department. Bumrah's partner fast bowler Mohammad Siraj also found his rhythm. Bumrah bowled lethally, but Siraj's effective bowling from the other end increased the pressure on the opposition batsmen and made their job easier. It is overall good news for India that its two main fast bowlers are in great rhythm together. Siraj failed to make an impact in the three-Test home series against New Zealand. He bowled a total of 31 overs in three innings of two Tests in which he got only two wickets at the cost of 116 runs.
Back on track in Perth:
Siraj took two wickets for 20 runs in 13 overs in the first innings of the Perth Test, while in the second innings he took three wickets for 51 runs in 14 overs. The special thing is that he made top batsmen his prey in both the innings. In the first innings, he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, while in the second he made a significant contribution in ensuring India's victory by sending Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins back to the pavilion. For the remaining four Test matches, it will be very important for India's series win for the fast bowling pair of Bumrah-Siraj to remain in similar rhythm.
Credit to 'Jassi Bhai':
Siraj has credited Bumrah for his return to form after a poor performance against New Zealand. Siraj said that he benefited from talking to acting captain and world number one bowler Bumrah before the Australia tour in the first Test. Siraj said after India's six-wicket win in the practice match against PM XI, 'I always keep talking to Jassi Bhai (Bumrah). Even before the first Test match, I talked to him about my bowling. He told me not to be eager to take wickets and keep bowling continuously in one area and enjoy my game. If you still don't get wickets, then talk to me.' Siraj said, 'That's why I enjoyed my bowling and also got wickets.' Siraj also talked to India's former bowling coach Bharat Arun about his bowling. Apart from this, before coming on the Australia tour, he also met fielding coach T Dilip in Hyderabad and practiced together.
Favorable conditions will benefit
Siraj was the highest wicket-taker for India during the last Australia tour of 2020-21. He made a major contribution with the ball in India's series win by taking 13 wickets in three matches at an average of 29.54 on that tour. Siraj did not play in the first day-night Test of the series held in Adelaide on that tour and India had to face defeat by eight wickets in that. The second Test of the current series is going to be held at the Adelaide ground itself and this will also be a day-night Test. It has been observed that the pink ball gives good swing to the bowlers in the evening, so Siraj, who is considered a master of the art of swing, can create problems for the opposition batsmen. Siraj looked in good rhythm in the practice match against PM XI, which was his first match with the pink ball. This will be the first occasion when Siraj will bowl with the pink ball in the milky light in Adelaide.
What did Siraj say about the pink ball?
The pink ball is different from the red ball. Its seam is very hard. It is shiny. The more you practice with this, the better it will be. I think it will be better to bowl back length with the pink ball.
Siraj's overall Test record
Tests- 32, Wickets- 85, Average- 29.67, Economy- 3.34, Best- 6/15, Five wickets in an innings- 3
Performance on Australian soil
Tests- 4 wickets- 18, Average- 25.27, Economy- 2.82, Best- 5/73, Five wickets in an innings- 1
Numbers game
Mohammad Siraj has taken 61 wickets in 17 Test matches played on foreign soil.
