Morkel hails 'natural leader' Siraj after Indian pacers fight back at The Oval on Day 4: 'He gives the team that spark'

India bowling coach Morne Morkel heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj for his consistency in the tour of England, in which the senior pacer is set to finish as the leading wicket-taker at the end of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

Siraj had dismissed England opener Zak Crawley at the stroke of stumps on Saturday to leave England at 50/1 in their chase of 374, and trapped stand-in captain Ollie Pope LBW on Day 4 to collect his 20th wicket of the series, which took him past England’s Josh Tongue to the top of the wicket-takers’ list.

South African pace legend Morkel heaped praise on Siraj after a dramatic Day 4 in the series finale, adding that the 30-year-old pacer from Hyderabad was finally getting the recognition that he deserves.

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“Siraj has been outstanding. He’s a natural leader - doesn’t say much, but his actions drive the group. I’m really pleased he’s getting the recognition. Whether it’s an extra spell or lifting the crowd when things go flat, he gives the team that spark,” Morkel told reporters after stumps on the penultimate day.

“He just said, ‘I want to play this match, I want to win it for the team.’ That’s the kind of attitude that wins Tests,” the 40-year-old further revealed on the topic of Siraj’s workload in the five-Test series.

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Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the fifth Test as part of his workload management, is fourth on the wicket-takers’ list with 14 scalps while Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna have collected 13 each, sitting at the fifth and sixth spots respectively.

With India needing four wickets to pull off a series-leveling victory in London, Siraj is set to finish as the most successful bowler in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

‘Can’t afford to throw in the towel’

The penultimate day of the final Test witnessed one of the most dramatic days of cricket across the series, setting up a thrilling conclusion on the final day even if the match is likely to conclude before lunch on Monday. And Morkel, for one, felt that India could not afford to slip up heading into the final day of the series.

“The series had moments like that – up and down. We managed to break the partnership. Unfortunately, rain came in and we will come tomorrow.

“You can’t afford to throw in the towel. Key was to break that partnership. Just create a bit of pressure,” Morkel added.

Also Read | Brook and Root's zen-like batting, Indian pace fight back sets up fitting denouement to dramatic Test series

India were firmly on top after Prasidh and Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) respectively, reducing England to 106/3.

The in-form Harry Brook would then be handed a lifeline on 19 after a thick top-edge off a short ball from Prasidh carried the ball to long leg, where Siraj would collect the catch – only to step on the boundary cushion with his back foot, resulting in agony from joy for the bowler in a couple of seconds.

Brook and Root would then go on to bring up their centuries and forge a mammoth 195-run stand that took England to 301/3, at which point the hosts appeared set for another successful 370-plus chase against India.

The Indian pacers, however, refused to give up. Brook was eventually caught by Siraj off Akash’s bowling shortly before tea while Prasidh struck twice shortly after tea, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Root in successive overs, leaving India needing four – or three, if an injured Chris Woakes fails to bat – wickets to win.

England were 339/6 in 76.2 overs when bad light followed by a spell of heavy rain ensured all five matches in the Test series went into the final day.