Cheteshwar Pujara praises Mohammed Siraj, says he is a bit more mature and sensible now

India’s solid batter Cheteshwar Pujara has heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj, stating that the fast bowler is a bit more mature and sensible now. Siraj bowled a fiery spell in England’s first innings to get the visitors back in the contest in the fifth Test match at Kennington Oval on Friday.

England openers – Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett – raced to 92 runs after India was bowled out for 224. Siraj looked insipid in his opening spell but bounced back with purpose after the lunch break.

India’s pack leader in this Test, Siraj, accounted for Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Jacob Bethell. Siraj plumbed England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope with an incoming delivery and also plumbed veteran batter Joe Root in front of the wickets.

The right-arm pacer also plumbed Jacob Bethell with a brilliant inswinging yorker.

“He’s bit more mature and sensible now. He’s still fearless, aggressive on the field. His personality hasn’t changed much. What he has learned is the kind of line and length he has to bowl against a particular batter and he learns quickly,” Pujara said on Sony Sports Network. 

Pujara lauded Siraj for executing his inswinging deliveries against England. Siraj returned with figures of 4-86 and played a key role in bundling out the hosts at 247.

“His incoming deliveries are very dangerous. I have faced someone like James Anderson and when he gets his away swingers going, the moment you move on the middle stump, he bowls that beautiful inswinger and you are trapped in front. And Siraj is able to do that. He doesn’t do much in the air. It happens after pitching. As a batter, once it happens after pitching, there is nothing much you can do about it,” he reflected. 

Pujara urged Siraj to use a scrambled seam with the new ball to get more returns in his bowling.

“I am a little surprised that he doesn’t use it when the ball is new (scrambled seam). When the ball is new, many Indian bowlers tend to swing the ball with the Dukes ball. If he can do the same thing with the new ball, he will be even more effective. Once the ball gets old, he knows his wicket-taking delivery,” he highlighted.

India has given a target of 374 runs to England and the hosts ended the third day’s play at 50-1.