NEW DELHI: mohamed siraj has now become a vital cog in the wheel of Team India in Test cricket and the fast bowler has also confessed his love for the game’s longer format.
The speedster shook Bangladesh’s top spot with his 3/14 numbers on day two of the first test at Chattogram. Left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/33) was the chief wrecker to leave Bangladesh reeling at 133 for 8 at the stumps.
India had posted 404 in their first innings.
Siraj, 28, also owes his bowling success to a swinging seam he discovered four years ago that confuses batters to tackle an oncoming outswing.
“In 2018 my balls stopped going in, I started playing outswingers more. I wondered why the balls weren’t going in and this time I discovered a swing seam because it’s hard for a batter to tackle an oncoming outswing.
“The swinging seam is kind of an offbeat and I’ve been successful with that,” he said.
Siraj attributed his success to the consistent bowling line and length.
“The red ball is my favourite. I’m more consistent in the red ball because it’s all about focusing on the line and the length. Credit for that goes to all the bowlers,” he said during the press conference after the match of the second day.
“My approach was to play one place consistently because it’s such a wicket that if you try more there’s a chance of leaks. My only plan was to get one place and be successful.”
He said a fast bowler must bowl stump to stump to be successful in five-day cricket.
“I think the more you play with the stub line the better because sometimes it lowers from there and spins. For a fast bowler it’s best to play stub line because you can then have LBW chances,” he said.
The Indian lower order stirred admirably with Ravichandran Ashwin (58), Kuldeep (40) and Umesh Yadav (15 not eliminated) putting on impressive performances to take India past the 400 point mark in the opening rounds .
“The lower order runs are always good for the team, so everyone shows interest in the practices. They (the lower order hitters) want to do well,” Siraj said.
(With PTI inputs)
The speedster shook Bangladesh’s top spot with his 3/14 numbers on day two of the first test at Chattogram. Left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/33) was the chief wrecker to leave Bangladesh reeling at 133 for 8 at the stumps.
India had posted 404 in their first innings.
Siraj, 28, also owes his bowling success to a swinging seam he discovered four years ago that confuses batters to tackle an oncoming outswing.
“In 2018 my balls stopped going in, I started playing outswingers more. I wondered why the balls weren’t going in and this time I discovered a swing seam because it’s hard for a batter to tackle an oncoming outswing.
“The swinging seam is kind of an offbeat and I’ve been successful with that,” he said.
Siraj attributed his success to the consistent bowling line and length.
“The red ball is my favourite. I’m more consistent in the red ball because it’s all about focusing on the line and the length. Credit for that goes to all the bowlers,” he said during the press conference after the match of the second day.
“My approach was to play one place consistently because it’s such a wicket that if you try more there’s a chance of leaks. My only plan was to get one place and be successful.”
He said a fast bowler must bowl stump to stump to be successful in five-day cricket.
“I think the more you play with the stub line the better because sometimes it lowers from there and spins. For a fast bowler it’s best to play stub line because you can then have LBW chances,” he said.
The Indian lower order stirred admirably with Ravichandran Ashwin (58), Kuldeep (40) and Umesh Yadav (15 not eliminated) putting on impressive performances to take India past the 400 point mark in the opening rounds .
“The lower order runs are always good for the team, so everyone shows interest in the practices. They (the lower order hitters) want to do well,” Siraj said.
(With PTI inputs)
