India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah played down concerns about Mohammed Siraj’s form in Test cricket, praising the fast bowler’s fighting spirit despite an injury scare during the first innings of the Brisbane Test. Bumrah said the team values Siraj’s attitude, which was evident in how he pushed through discomfort to contribute with the ball in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Mohammed Siraj has found it challenging to replicate the heroics of the 2020-21 series on the ongoing tour of Australia. While the pacer has claimed 11 wickets in five innings so far, he has struggled to maintain consistent pressure from the other end, offering limited support to Bumrah.
AUS vs IND, 3rd Test Day 3 Highlights
In the first innings of the Brisbane Test, Siraj struggled to find the right lengths to exploit the conditions. On Day 2, he suffered a hamstring injury scare and was off the field for nearly a session. However, he returned to bowl 23.2 overs, picking up two wickets in the process.
“In this game, I will give him credit. He had a little bit of a niggle, but he still kept on bowling and helped the team. He knew if he went inside and didn’t bowl (again), the team would be under pressure. He has got a great attitude and a fighter’s spirit that the team loves. I personally love that as well,” Bumrah said of Siraj.
Despite Bumrah taking six wickets in the first innings of the Brisbane Test, Australia posted a challenging total of 445 on the board.
“He is always up for a fight and gives it his all for the team. That’s the biggest positive for any cricketer. Even when he wasn’t 100 per cent, he kept fighting for the team. That’s a great attitude,” he added.
“In terms of wickets, and all, some days, you will bowl well, and wickets might not come. Some days, you will not bowl very well, but the wickets will follow. It’s all money in the bank. That’s the conversation I have had with him.
“You keep controlling the things you can control, keep running in, keep having a smile on your face. You are here to play Test cricket. Your family is really proud of you. You are doing something that not many have done before.
“He is in a very good space. That’s what I know of. I don’t know what else is happening. But he has got a great attitude. That’s very good,”** he added.
BOWLING UNIT IN TRANSITION PERIOD: BUMRAH
Concerns have been raised about Jasprit Bumrah’s workload during the ongoing five-Test series, but the vice-captain stressed the importance of helping a young bowling attack adapt to the demands of red-ball cricket in challenging conditions Down Under.
“We don’t, as a team, point fingers at each other. We don’t want to tell each other, ‘You should do this, and you should do that.’ We, as a team, are going through a transition where new players are coming in. It (Australia) is not the easiest place to play cricket. Over here, it’s a different atmosphere. This wicket brought a different challenge,” Bumrah said.
“Obviously, as a bowling unit, we are in transition. So it’s my job to help others. I have played more than them. I am trying to help them. Of course, everyone will learn from this and get better,” he added.
Bumrah has shouldered most of the bowling workload, leading an inexperienced fast-bowling attack in the absence of Mohammed Shami.
Bumrah has bowled 82 overs, the most by any bowler so far in the five innings of the Test series, while Siraj has bowled 76.1 overs. Akash Deep, who replaced Harshit Rana in the XI for the third Test, has bowled 30 overs in just one innings.
India’s spin attack has struggled to provide adequate support, while fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy has stepped up when required.
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