Former England captain Nasser Hussain said that Mohammed Siraj’s huge fielding error that gave Harry Brook a life on Day 4 of The Oval was a result of a lack of concentration. Hussain also explained that the pace bowler had just returned to the field and was caught off guard as he immediately had to take a catch near the boundary ropes. Brook top-edged a pull off Prasidh Krishna’s bowling, and the ball went towards Siraj at long leg, who completed the catch,
but stepped onto the boundary line to concede a six as well. And, Brook ended up smashing 111 off 98 balls, adding 195 for the fourth wicket with Joe Root (105) as well.

Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket after the end of Day 4 at The Oval, Nasser Hussain said, “It could well be [the match]. In my era, that catch would be relatively difficult because you weren’t used to those things. For modern cricketers, that’s a relatively easy chance. You either stop or then you flick it up and then you jump back in. He’ll be disappointed. There would be a little bit of lack of concentration. He’d been off the field, there was a masseur there. He may have been talking about his body and then suddenly…”

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“That is Test cricket. You are there; you have worked hard for five Tests. It’s probably going to be two moments with Siraj. That moment at Lord’s, where he battled hard. He does not deserve to be on the losing side and I hope he’s not remembered for that catch. You feel for Siraj because he has worked so hard. He kept coming right at the end there. He’s played the whole series with a smile on his face,” he further added.

Like Hussain, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also said that Siraj should not be remembered for his huge fielding blunder even if India lose the fifth Test.

“It’s a very odd moment for Siraj, who should absolutely be spoken about in the most eloquent manner for the way he’s gone about in the series. He’s been a warrior,” he added.