Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Mohammed Siraj’s massive fielding blunder was due to lack of concentration on the fourth day of the fifth Test match against England. Siraj took an easy catch at deep fine leg but his foot touched the boundary rope when Harry Brook was on only 19.
Brook went on to score a brilliant knock of 111 runs off 98 balls to put England in front and thus Siraj’s mistake proved costly. Brook added 195 runs with Joe Root and it would have been a different story if Siraj had taken a clean catch.
Hussain noted that Siraj had not been on the field and thus he might not have been switched on after taking the field.
Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports Cricket, “It could well be [the match]. In my era, that catch would be relatively difficult because you weren’t used to those things. For modern cricketers, that’s a relatively easy chance. You either stop or then you flick it up and then you jump back in. He’ll be disappointed. There would be a little bit of lack of concentration. He’d been off the field, there was a masseur there. He may have been talking about his body and then suddenly…”
Despite the error in the field, Hussain lauded Mohammed Siraj for his whole-hearted effort in the field.
Hussain said, “That is Test cricket. You are there; you have worked hard for five Tests. It’s probably going to be two moments with Siraj. That moment at Lord’s, where he battled hard. He does not deserve to be on the losing side and I hope he’s not remembered for that catch. You feel for Siraj because he has worked so hard. He kept coming right at the end there. He’s played the whole series with a smile on his face.”
On the other hand, former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik said it was a very odd moment for Siraj, who had given his absolute best throughout the series.
“It’s a very odd moment for Siraj, who should absolutely be spoken about in the most eloquent manner for the way he’s gone about in the series. He’s been a warrior.”
England need another 35 runs to win the fifth Test with four wickets in hand.
