Our Bureau
Birmingham
In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj has stepped up big time leading the Indian pace attack. The star pacer clinched a 6-wicket haul on Day 3 and helped India maintain a lead of 180 going into the second innings. Siraj had been very unlucky in the past few matches as he was bowling really well but the results were not going in his favor so to finally lead the bowling charts must have been a good feeling for the right-arm pacer.
Siraj in the post match interview talked about how he had waited a long time for a milestone like this in English conditions as he had got four-wicket hauls earlier. He also mentioned how he had to take responsibility in the absence of Bumrah and lead a young bowling attack with both Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna
“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 areas and bowl with discipline. It’s Akash Deep’s third or fourth match, same for Prasidh, so I was just focused on staying consistent and building pressure,” Siraj said.
Siraj also talked about India’s plan going forward as they will look to pressurise the Englishmen in the second innings and put up a total high enough to defend on the last day. He said, “We are quite ahead right now but the plan is to get as many runs on the board because we know their attacking mindset.”
