 "Mohammed Siraj picked up six wickets at Edgbaston on Day 3 against England. AP")
A thrilling day of Test cricket at Edgbaston saw Mohammad Siraj picking up 6 wickets. He started the day on a blistering note picking up Joe Root and Ben Stokes on consecutive deliveries, and right towards the end he cleaned up the tail. His spell in the 3rd session tormented the England lineup as they bundled out at the score of 407, securing India a first-innings lead of 180 runs.
Mohammed Siraj on his brilliant spell
This was Siraj’s third 5-wicket haul in Tests, and came at a time when Team India was seeking brilliance from one of its pacers. Following the culmination of the game, Siraj addressed his performance and showcased his expressive side again.
“It’s unbelievable because I was waiting for a long time. I have been bowling well but not getting wickets. I have only got four-wicket hauls here, so getting six here is very special. The wicket was very slow but when you are given a responsibility to lead the attack, my aim was to not try too much and just bowl in the right area and bowl with discipline. My mindset was to keep it tight and not give away runs. [On an approach without Bumrah] It’s Akash Deep’s third or fourth match, same for Prasidh, so I was just focused on staying consistent and building pressure. I feel like trying different things, but I have to stay consistent.”
Also Read | Harry Brook and Jamie Smith smash records as England mount thrilling comeback against India at Edgbaston
Responsibility motivated Siraj
In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the onus was on Siraj and he handled the mantle with utmost responsibility. Ironically, Siraj displays a better average when Bumrah is not alongside him in the bowling order. Responding to the same he said.
“I love responsibility, I love the challenge. [On the match situation] We are quite ahead right now but the plan is to get as many runs on the board because we know their attacking mindset. [On the pitch] Day by day, the pitch is slowing down more. If you keep bowling in one area… If you start leaking runs, it’s hard to stop that. We saw that with Smith and Brook. Patience is very important here.”
Siraj’s dream spell of 70/6 in 19.3 overs has put India in the driver’s seat. A huge Day 4 is in the waits. Let’s see whether Team India can make of the advantage gained and bring the series on level terms.