India pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed his surprise at Joe Root's decision to play a reverse ramp shot against Jasprit Bumrah, resulting in the veteran England batter’s ugly dismissal on Day 3 of the ongoing Rajkot Test.
Root, who was well-set at 18 after spending nearly an hour at the crease, opted for an adventurous stroke but didn’t get the desired connection as Yashasvi Jaiswal took a good catch at second slip.
Root's dismissal triggered a sort of collapse as England’s first innings folded for 319, conceding a substantial lead of 126 runs to the hosts.
"Ben Duckett's partnership was growing with Root, if he had played a little more, then it would have been difficult for us. But suddenly he played that shot which didn't look (like one) to be played," Siraj said during a media interaction after the day's play.
"But it turned out good for us and after that (Ben) Foakes and Ben Stokes had a good partnership, and then Stokes played a shot (which got him out) and we got into the game from there," he added.
Riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s superb ton (104 retired hurt off 133 balls), the hosts reached 196/2 at the close of play on Day 3, extending their lead to 322 runs. Shubman Gill (65*) and Kuldeep Yadav (3*) were unbeaten in the middle for India at stumps.
Siraj lauded Jaiswal for his whirlwind century. "The way he is batting, his confidence is very high. He is not looking behind and is totally focussed on what lies ahead and he is carrying on with that confidence. The message from the team is that he should continue the way he has been doing.”
"We only think of taking the game as forward as possible so that we (bowlers) should also recover because we are bowling long spells and fielding. The more we are able to recover the fresher we will be for the second innings," he said.
According to Siraj, the Indian bowlers will have to keep targeting the stumps in the fourth innings.
"I reckon the ball will keep a little low on the fourth day but cannot say anything accurately for this wicket. Whatever I have assessed of this wicket, the more you are able to bowl at the stumps, you are more likely to get success. If you bowl wide, you may leak runs," he added.
The Rajkot pitch has not developed enough cracks yet but Siraj expects the spinners to have an impact.
"Spinners will obviously be effective in the fourth innings because the ball is turning. Not all six delivers (in an over) are turning but one odd one is. You can get wickets if you bowl with patience at one spot. "Today we did not try anything apart from bowling at the stumps. Had we tried more, maybe we would not have got the wickets," Siraj stated.
Mohammed Siraj was the pick of Indian bowlers in England’s first innings, returning with the figures of 4/84 on a flat wicket. The right-arm quick executed his Yorkers to perfection.
"It is a flat and slow wicket and we have to make a plan. You should put it down in the batsman's mind that he (the bowler) is bowling the bouncer or the slower one to keep him confused. I planned the yorker and executed it well and got the wicket and the momentum shifted."
The Indian pacer further said that the absence of senior off-spinner R Ashwin, who withdrew from the Test after the second day’s play due to a family emergency, meant the other bowlers had to bowl longer spells.
"In the morning when we got to know that Ash bhai is not there, more responsibility fell on us. Rohit bhai told us that we would have to bowl long spells, and I love bowling long spells," he said.
"For a fast bowler in Test cricket, one cannot set up a batsman in three-four overs. We got success due to long spells. Ash bhai was our fifth bowler and I only wish that his mother gets well soon. If you bowl long spells you should not try much but be consistent with it (line and lengths).
"They (England batters) are not used to defending all six balls in an over, if they have defended on two, they are going to attack the third," Siraj said.
(With PTI inputs)
