As the high-stakes Manchester Test looms, India pacer Mohammed Siraj has shed light on the mental games that unfold on the field—particularly sledging. With the five-match Test series delicately poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, the fourth Test at Old Trafford is a must-win for India. Speaking ahead of the encounter, Siraj revealed that sledging remains a tactical tool in his arsenal, one he might use depending on the game’s flow.
“There’s no set strategy when it comes to sledging,” Mohammed Siraj said. “It happens instinctively. If a batter is locked in and focused, sometimes you try to get into his head, just to break his rhythm. It doesn’t always work, but it adds to the thrill of being a fast bowler.”
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His comments come in the wake of a feisty third Test at Lord’s, which England edged by 22 runs. Tensions flared late on Day 3 when England opener Zak Crawley visibly slowed down play under fading light, prompting Indian skipper Shubman Gill to react angrily. In a moment caught on the stump mic, Gill was heard yelling, “Grow some f****** ba**s” at Crawley after repeated delays, with only one over bowled in seven minutes before stumps.
“It was good fun” 🤣
Harry Brook reflects on the tension at Lord’s between England and India 🍿 pic.twitter.com/dyf6M0CyNV
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 21, 2025
The drama continued into the final day, where England’s bowlers bundled India out for 170 while defending 193, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Reflecting on the incident, England batter Harry Brook admitted the team had taken note of India’s aggression.
“We saw them coming hard at Crawley and Duckett during Bumrah’s over. After that, we had a chat and decided to respond as a team. It felt like 11 vs 2 out there, but it made fielding fun,” Brook revealed. Siraj, however, clarified that sledging is never premeditated. “It depends on the situation. If the moment calls for it, a little banter can disrupt a batter’s concentration,” he explained.
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As both sides prepare for a decisive clash in Manchester, the psychological edge could prove just as important as the tactical one. And with tempers already frayed, the verbal battles may be just as gripping as the on-field action.
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