The Indian fast bowler from Hyderabad, Mohammed Siraj made his Test debut during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. However, former Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting said that he looked very much like a Test match bowler. Siraj, who came into the XI as the replacement of the injured Mohammed Shami, became the 298th player to represent India in the Test format.
Talking about the pacer with cricket.com.au., Ponting said, “I have liked his aggression, he has been willing to use the short-ball. But the thing that I liked in the lead up to (Cameron) Green’s wicket and even when Tim Paine came to the crease. He is a noted new ball bowler and has done really well in domestic cricket in India with the brand new ball, and I thought he might have his challenges here once the ball got a little bit older, but he has bowled really well.”
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Siraj had a successful outing as he finished the day with 2-40. He got the prized wicket of Marnus Labuschagne to get his maiden Test wicket and followed it up with the wicket of Cameron Green. Ponting also believes that Mohammed Siraj bowled better than Umesh Yadav on Day 1. Former Australian skipper said that he looked a better bowler compared to Umesh on Saturday.
Elaborating the same, Ponting said, “His (Siraj’s) wrist points have been good, his length has been good. He has had a lot of LBW shouts, obviously the wicket of Green, but he also had another review against Tim Paine, the ball was hitting the top of the stumps. So, he has looked very much a Test match bowler, in fact, looking at him today he has looked a better bowler than Umesh Yadav. India has again been able to find some promising fast bowlers.”
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Siraj earned a position for himself on his performance in first-class cricket where took 152 wickets in 67 innings at an average of 23.44. He was added to the Indian team for the Australian tour along with RCB team-mate Navdeep Saini.
