Former South Africa pacer and current Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel sang praises for Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj after his hearty effort in the second India vs England Test at Edgbaston and said Siraj hasn’t been credited enough for his efforts.
“Siraj is a guy that I have a lot of respect for. He pushes his body to the limit. He can try too hard at times and that can make you inconsistent. But he really puts his heart on his sleeve,” said Morkel after Stumps on Day 4 when India reduced England to 72 for three, with the home team needing 536 on the final day to win.
“He does the dirty job for the team, and that doesn’t reflect in the wickets column at times,” he added.
Siraj has been the workhorse for this team and has emerged as a leader of this bowling attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He picked six wickets in the first innings and denied England a lead.
“I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard so for us. It’s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve. I think sometimes those sort of things can give you that inconsistency,” said Morkel.
Leader of pace attack
“In a match that he’s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he’s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don’t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that,” he added.
Speaking on Akash Deep’s line of attack, Morkel said, “He is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot,” Morkel said. “I think that’s one of the golden rules here in England: asking questions on the stumps. So for these sort of conditions in the UK, it suits his style. And coming back from injury and seeing him running in with high pace, it’s a nice sign for us.”
