India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel lavished praise on Mohammed Siraj after the fast bowler delivered in the first innings of the second Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj was able to step up as India’s pack leader.
Siraj returned with impressive figures of 6-70 in the first innings as he bowled at the top of his game. The right-arm pacer accounted for Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.
Siraj was able to wrap up England’s tail with the second new ball as he was right on the money. The fast bowler also dismissed Zak Crawley in the second innings.
Morne Morkel said in the post-day press conference, “Siraj is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for. He’s a guy that always will push his body to the limits. I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard so for us. In a match that he’s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he’s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don’t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that. It’s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve.”
On the other hand, the former South African fast bowler also showered praise on Akash Deep. The pacer returned with figures of 4-88 in the first innings as he stepped while playing his opening game of the series. Deep also got the big wicket of Joe Root with a peach of a delivery in the second innings and also accounted for Ben Duckett.
Morkel said, “He is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot. I think that’s one of the golden rules here in England: asking questions on the stumps. So for these sort of conditions in the UK, it suits his style. And coming back from injury and seeing him running in with high pace, it’s a nice sign for us. That was a dream delivery… top quality player Joe Root and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash, what he can do.”
England ended the fourth day’s play at 72-3 after India have set a gargantuan target of 608.
