India vs England 2021: ‘You got to take your hats off to him’ – Graeme Swann heaps praise on ‘brilliant’ Mohammed Siraj


India vs England 2021: ‘You got to take your hats off to him’ – Graeme Swann heaps praise on ‘brilliant’ Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj

Winning the toss on a batting-friendly pitch, England was expected to put a great display of batting in the fourth Test. But the visitors failed yet again as India bundled them out for just 205. As expected the spin duo of Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin reigned supreme with seven wickets between them. Alongside them was a young face in the wickets column, one not many backed to surpass his more experienced teammate.

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It was Mohammed Siraj who shined on day one from the fast bowling unit. Early on in the day, there was some help for the quicks and Siraj was quick to seize the opportunity. He bowled great lengths and speeds as he scalped two wickets. Former English spinner Graeme Swann is mighty impressed with the young pacer.

I thought when England won the toss that this wicket might do a bit because there was bit of moisture in the ground but I didn’t expect Siraj to exploit it as well as he did. I obviously thought Sharma, who is a senior bowler (would do most of the damage) But Siraj was brilliant,said Swann in the post-match show on Star Sports.

“You got to take your hats off to Mohammed Siraj,” Graeme Swann

Mohammed Siraj

Both the wickets Siraj scalped in the game were very crucial from England’s perspective. The first was that of captain Joe Root, whom he beautifully set up with outswingers and bouncers. The second one was that of Jonny Bairstow, who was looking dangerous. His brisk pace and accurate lengths trapped both the world-class batsmen in front the wicket for LBW.

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He bowled with great pace and the way he set up Joe Root with a couple going away just around off the off stump. And then after the drinks break, nipped the ball back in trapped Joe Root in front of the crease,” Swann added.

The ball he got Jonny Bairstow with as well. What I liked about that was it was 10 km quicker than the previous delivery. It just beat for pace, beat him all ends up. It was just great bit of bowling. You got to take your hats off to him,” said Swann.

He was in the spotlight throughout the day and a verbal spat with Ben Stokes was one of the reasons. Siraj shared that Stokes was the one who abused him in the middle. Nonetheless, Swann feels that Siraj should avoid such altercations in the middle. The former off-spinner feels that the spat is what motivated Stokes to play a big innings. Stokes high scored for his side in the first innings with a half-century.

I’ve got to say he shouldn’t have got into the verbal with Ben Stokes. It fired Stokes up. You don’t need to that. Just get on with your bowling. He’s a beautiful bowler, he just needs to concentrate on that,” added the former off-spinner.

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