Mohammed Siraj Shines In Border-Gavaskar Trophy With Stellar Bowling
The Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj is back in the game with his brilliant bowling spell against Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Jasprit Bumrah he also played a key role in India’s win of 295 runs, impressive with his lengths and ability to target the stumps. He was seen struggling a lot in Test cricket, started the year with a 7-wicket haul in South Africa, and went through a rough patch in home season. Before traveling to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he played against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. During the four matches he played at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he managed to take only six wickets, went wicketless against Kiwis at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Siraj started thinking deeply about his bowling performances and was even upset with the same. He said that he could feel that he was not enjoying bowling, he gets a different feeling when he enjoys bowling.
“I could feel that I was not enjoying my bowling, as a person, I am someone who gets a different feeling when I am enjoying my bowling, even if I am not getting wickets. And now when I was not getting wickets, I went a bit deep into why I was not getting them. In India you know that spinners bowl most of the overs, so there it is a little tough to get wickets in the five overs (you get as a fast bowler). So I just became a bit upset about why I was not getting wickets. But now I am having a lot of fun.”
Further, he stated that he worked closely with coach Bharat and said that he spoke with his former coach who advised him to just enjoy his bowling and not chase wickets.
“I spoke with Bharat Arun sir, that this is what’s happening with me. Because he has known me for a while and he has seen my bowling from a long time back. So he just told me to enjoy and not run after wickets. Just enjoy and you will get wickets. And before travelling, I met (fielding coach) Dilip sir in Hyderabad and we practiced together as well. So it felt good and now I am enjoying.”
On speaking up equation with India’s current bowling coach Morne Morkel, Siraj said that he calls him a warrior.
“Morne (Morkel, India’s current bowling coach) keeps telling me that, ‘you are a warrior’. You’ll get us wickets, but you just keep enjoying your bowling.”
Siraj took a total of five wickets in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy at Perth, took three wickets in the second innings. It was also seen that he was back at his rhythm and enjoyed bowling in Australia.