India’s pace duo – Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj started well as India bagged three wickets before the end of play on Day 4 of the second Test against England. With 90 overs to bowl on Day 5 and just 7 wickets to take, India would like to level the series 1-1. But, with rain threatening to wash out the final day’s play, there remains the threat of England escaping with a draw as well. When India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, was asked if Gill could have declared early, he shared the logic behind the timing of the decision.

Morkel said, “We did speak about it [timing of declaration] a lot during the day. It’s still a good wicket, even our boys were batting quite comfortably there towards the back end. They were batting at 4-5 runs an over. You can’t control the weather. It was about getting ourselves into a comfortable position and having 20-25 overs at them tonight to take a few wickets. We got that, which is a bonus for us.”

However, in the match, Akash Deep replaced Jasprit Bumrah on the side as the latter was rested, which put more responsibility on veteran pacer Mohammed Siraj as well.

“Very happy so far (with the performance of pacers). We had some good discussions after the last game. It is a pleasing sign (show in Bumrah’s absence). Akash Deep is an attacking bowler, asking questions on the stumps. The England conditions suit him. He is running in at high pace and that is a good sign. The more confidence you give him the better he gets,” said Morne Morkel after stumps on day four.

However, India Set a near-impossible 608-run target, and England will need another 536 runs to win the Test on the fifth and final day. Norably, Siraj took a six-wicket haul in the first innings and got rid of Zak Crawley in the final hour on day five. The wickets were not coming his way of late but Morkel is happy that the hardworking pacer has got his due.

“Siraj he is a guy that I have 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. He does the dirty job for the team and that doesn’t reflect in the wickets column at times,” he again said.

“Very happy for Shubman. As captain on a big tour, coming to England, he has handled the expectations very well so far,” Morne Morkel concluded.