India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, praised Mohammed Siraj for his exceptional bowling display during the ongoing second Test against England, held at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With Jasprit Bumrah absent from the match, Siraj led India’s pace attack in the first innings, claiming six wickets for 70 runs. His effort played a crucial role in bowling England out for 407 runs. This marked Siraj’s second-best bowling figures in Test cricket and his first five-wicket haul on English soil.
Earlier, India scored 587 all out in their first innings, and Siraj’s impressive bowling helped India secure a 180-run lead. In the second innings, the right-arm pacer also provided India with an early breakthrough by dismissing England opener Zak Crawley.
Morne Morkel Praises Mohammed Siraj
“Mohammed Siraj is a player I deeply respect. He pushes his body to its limits. Sometimes he tries too hard, which can lead to inconsistency, but he always plays with great passion. He does the tough, unglamorous work for the team, even if it doesn’t always show up in the wickets column,” Morkel said.
He added, “At times, Mohammed Siraj eagerness to perform can cause some inconsistency. Our job is to help him manage that intensity and aggression because he genuinely bowls with his heart on his sleeve.”
The former South African pacer also believes Siraj doesn’t receive enough recognition for his effort and resilience.
“Now that Mohammed Siraj leading the attack and taking wickets, it’s clear. But beyond that, the effort and energy he puts in—even when his body is sore—is remarkable. He’s always willing to step up and bowl that crucial over. I don’t think he always gets the credit he deserves for that,” Morkel explained.
Meanwhile, India has set a massive target of 608 runs for England in the Edgbaston Test. At stumps on Day 4, England were 72/3, needing 536 more runs to win, while India requires seven wickets to seal the victory.