Morkel lauds Siraj and Akash for shining in Bumrah's absence at Edgbaston: 'It is a pleasing sign'

Morne Morkel heaped praise on the Indian bowlers, including and especially Mohammed Siraj, for standing tall against England in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence and helping India collect a massive first innings lead. Siraj collected 6/70 in the first innings and received good support from pace colleague Akash Deep, who collected the remaining four wickets for 88 runs, as the Shubman Gill-led visitors bowled England out for 407 after posting a mammoth 587 on the board.

Siraj and Akash had reduced England to 84/5 at one stage and triggered another English collapse with the second new ball after a mammoth sixth-wicket partnership between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184 not out) worth 303 runs had England staring at the prospect of cancelling out India’s first innings total for the second game in a row.

And on Day 4 of the second Test at Edgbaston , Akash – brought in as a replacement after Jasprit Bumrah was rested due to workload management – struck twice after Siraj drew first blood to reduce the Ben Stokes-led side to 72/3 at close of play in their chase of a improbable 608-run target.

“Very happy so far (with the performance of pacers). We had some good discussions after the last game. It is a pleasing sign (show in Bumrah’s absence). Akash Deep is an attacking bowler, asking questions on the stumps.

“The England conditions suit him. He is running in at high pace and that is a good sign. The more confidence you give him the better he gets,” India bowling coach Morkel said during the press conference after close of play.

‘Siraj he is a guy that I have lot of respect for’

Morkel, who was part of an iconic South African pacer attack alongside Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and all-rounder Jacques Kallis under Graeme Smith’s leadership, further described Siraj as someone who wore his heart on his sleeve and did the ‘dirty work for the team’ more often than not.

“Siraj he is a guy that I have lot of respect for. He pushes his body to the limit. He can try too hard at times and that can make you inconsistent. But he really puts his heart on his sleeve. He does the dirty job for the team and that doesn’t reflect in the wickets column at times,” Morkel added.

The 40-year-old also heaped praise on captain Shubman Gill, who continued rewriting records by smashing 161 at nearly run-a-ball after his majestic 269 in the first innings. And given the current match situation, he expects an ’exciting day of cricket’ on Sunday.

“We are not really worried. If you score 500 plus you deserve to win. Wanted to get an hour of bowling today with day five round the corner “It is going to be an exciting day of cricket. England have got success playing that style of cricket. If they are happy to take it on (so be it).

“Very happy for Shubman. As captain on a big tour, coming to England, he has handled the expectations very well so far,” Morkel added.

India currently are in a strong position to level the series 1-1 heading into the third Test at Lord’s. England, on the other hand, will likely be playing for a draw on the final day of the highest-scoring in Birmingham after chasing down a target of 371 in the series opener at Headingley, Leeds.