Indian right-arm fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has said that it is a great feeling for him to lead the team’s bowling attack in the absence of senior players. Siraj said that he loves taking up challenges and is enjoying the responsibility of being the team’s leading fast bowler in the test series against West Indies. He takes 5/60 wickets on the fourth day of the second test against West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Sunday, July 23, 2023. This is the career-best test figure of Siraj’s. West Indies continued their second innings at 229/5 but lost five wickets for only 26 runs and were all out for 255 runs, Siraj taking four of those five wickets.
At a press conference after the end of the day, Mohammed Siraj said,
“To be honest, I feel really good when you are given an extra responsibility. It’s a great feeling and it’s a challenge too. When no one else is there, I have to get on the ground and show some responsibility. I like accepting this challenge,”
After the end of the third day, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey deplored the slow nature of Trinidad’s surface. He said that taking 20 wickets on this surface would be very difficult. He commented;
“First of all, this performance was really good because it’s not easy to take a five-fer on such a flat wicket. The pitch wasn’t doing much. I wanted to keep it stump to stump. From there if it seams, it’s really good. That was my plan, just to keep executing this simple plan.
“Today [Sunday] we had a relatively new ball too, so it was swinging. Tomorrow we’ll start with an older ball, we’ll have to keep simple plans, not give away too many runs and just keep building the pressure.”
Team India declared their second innings at 181/2. India scoring these runs in just 24 overs and dismissing the West Indies early on the fourth day.
“I try to Keep My Body Warmed Up” – Mohammed Siraj On Dealing with Rain Interruptions.
The Trinidad Test has been washed out due to rain and players have been coming in and out of the ground continuously for the last two days. It is a challenge for the fast bowlers, who may lose rhythm and have to ensure that they maintain the desired fitness as well.
Mohammed Siraj commented:
“It’s hot and humid here. On and off it’s raining too. It’s a challenge to keep yourself warmed up as a fast bowler when you keep going off the field and the body tends to relax and cool down fast. As a fast bowler it’s also difficult to bowl long spells in this humidity. I try to keep my body warmed up and just focus on simple plans.
“I’m really thankful to Soham bhai (S&C coach) and credit to him for working on my fitness. I’m playing continuously and he works so hard with me. From proteins to omegas, he orders everything for me. Look at this whoop band [fitness tracker], he only ordered it.
West Indies need 289 runs to win on the fifth day with eight wickets remaining. They will continue their second innings with Tagnarin Chanderpaul making 24 runs and Jermaine Blackwood making 20 runs with the bat.
