India’s Mohammed Siraj and England’s Harry Brook were seen engaging in some banter on day 3 of the ongoing first Test at Headingley. Siraj, expected to shoulder the burden of pace bowling with Jasprit Bumrah, was hammered for 122 runs and picked up 2 wickets.
England posted 466, giving India, who made 471, a lead of just six runs ahead of their second innings. Siraj received more criticism for his attitude and refusal to learn from his mistakes than for his inconsistent bowling. It appeared that his usual aggressiveness, which was frequently intended to frighten batters, had gone too far.
Siraj was not only costly, but he also seemed to be lacking in inspiration. That annoyance might have reached a boiling point when Harry Brook was hit on the pads by a delivery in the 84th over. Siraj glared at him until Brook finally answered, which was sufficient to start a conversation. Siraj shot back, and Brook used a shush to silence him after a short exchange of words.
Energized, Brook roared back, racing into the 90s with a flurry of replies, including 6, 4, 4 off Siraj in the following over. He appeared to be on track for a century, but after three lifelines, he fell for 99 after mistiming a hook off Prasidh Krishna to Shardul Thakur at fine leg.
Dinesh Karthik, a former India wicketkeeper who was commentating, succinctly explained why Siraj's aggression backfires more frequently than it works.
"Interesting to see Siraj get a bit aggressive. Just have a look at him. Hits the elbow. Siraj had something to say. He likes to get aggressive. He was playing against RCB as well. He got aggressive. And then in one game, he came up against Phil Salt. The game was in Delhi. RCB were chasing, and he thought it was the best way to get himself pumped," Karthik said on the commentary.
"Siraj gave a few words back to Phil Salt, and then Salt took off after that. After the match got over, I asked Siraj 'Why did you have to go after him? You were bowling so nicely. He said 'No, I just wanted to instill some fear'. I said, but that's what he likes. He immediately turned and said, 'You should have told me before the game started. Not after I got hit',” Karthik added.
India has always been concerned about Siraj's performance with the ball. He was left out of India's Champions Trophy team, but he was selected for the England Tests after displaying some promise in the IPL.
