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India's Mohammed Siraj, left, appeals successfully for the wicket of England's captain Ollie Pope on day four of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has singled out Mohammed Siraj’s attitude for the success the pacer has enjoyed in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Siraj, who is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 20, came up with another inspired performance on Day 4, when England were threatening to seal the series. His ability to relentlessly keep up the intensity was there to see again at the Oval, where the series is now headed for a fitting climax on Day 5.
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Speaking at the close of play, Morkel was all praise for Siraj. “I said it earlier in the Test series, I’m very happy for Siraj that he’s getting the recognition. He’s a guy in that changing room who will lead the way, he’s a natural leader. Although vocally he doesn’t speak a lot, I think he leads a lot with his actions. In this series, he’s done it with the ball at times when we’ve needed somebody to put his hand up and create something. Even if it was bowling an extra two to three overs or creating an opportunity for us, he’s been that guy. He’s put in the effort, and it’s just nice to see the rewards and today again at the back end, stepping up, getting the support behind the team to lift us in the crucial moments, it’s those sort of smart plays that you need, and for me, Siraj has just been outstanding,” Morkel said.
While Prasidh Krishna walked away with the wickets of Ben Duckett and centurion Joe Root to inject life into the game, Siraj had played a role in both the dismissals with his spell at the other end. After dismissing Zak Crawley off the last ball of the previous evening, he removed Ollie Pope to give an opening. And in the final session, was constantly in the ears of Prasidh and Akash Deep. Despite sending down more overs than anyone in the series, Siraj still delivered long spells with the old ball before bad light and rain brought an end to the proceedings on Day 4, with India needing four wickets and England 35 runs.
Mohammed Siraj lands a killer blow 💥
He sends the set English captain back to the pavilion 👋#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/Okwai75KaA
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 3, 2025
In a series where India have been able to play Jasprit Bumrah in only three Tests, Siraj has taken the lead mantle whenever his senior pro isn’t available. It was evident at the Oval as well. “I think he just enjoys that opportunity when it’s given to him and he said it yesterday, he just loves playing for India and putting the shirt on and performing. That’s what you want from a fast bowler — an important series, five Tests, a guy that’s always willing to take the ball and a guy who’s always putting his hand up to say, ‘listen, I want to do it for the team’.” Morkel said.
While India have been rotating the rest of the pace pack, Siraj has been an exception to this. Morkel, though, did admit that before the Oval Test, he had conversations with the 31-year-old about where he stood physically. “Even before the start of the Test, there was conversations with him just to check in how he was feeling mentally and how he was feeling physically because of the amount of overs. But he was the first guy to say, ‘listen, I want to play this Test match, I want to win it for the team’. So not just the bowling front but it’s the attitude for me that is great and, you’ve got a guy with an attitude like that, he’s willing to run in all day, I’m not surprised, that’s why he’s got the numbers,” Morkel said.
Siraj, the only pacer across both sides to play all 5 matches, has now bowled 181.2 overs (1088 deliveries), the most in the series – two more than Chris Woakes.
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