Former England pacer and commentator Steve Harmison heaped praise on the Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj after his match-winning performance in the second Test at Lord’s earlier this week.
He also lauded Siraj for the energy he shows on the field and called him the "Duracell battery" of the Indian bowling attack. The right-arm pacer produced an outstanding performance in both innings, picking 8 wickets, to help the Indian cricket team beat England by 151 runs in the second Test at Lord’s.
Siraj’s deadly bowling attack and energetic gestures on the field were totally thrilling to watch for the fans and former cricketers and Harmison credited his fitness trainer for training him in such a way.
Harmison told ESPNCricinfo: “He’s a Duracell battery Mohammed Siraj. What he has done at the end there, I mentioned from the first ball to the last ball, he’s at it. Whatever the fitness trainer is doing to him, keep doing it. I’d like to see him do it till Manchester, towards the end of the series. He pitches it up, swings it away.”
Praising Siraj’s never-say-die attitude on the field that helps him get the better of oppositions, the Englishman noted: “I also think he's got a bit of heart about himself that helps him to always go at the batsman. He almost tells the batsman ‘I’m gonna make this a contest, you coming in with me?’ If the batsman is not up to the contest then he wins it. He’s been the difference for India in these two Test matches. The way he’s run-in has been fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Harmison also hailed Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah, saying: “Bumrah if you haven’t faced him a lot and he has that unusual action and release that helps him get a lot of natural variation from the pitch. He hits the pitch so hard that he can get a lot out of it.”
He signed off by saying, “You feel that the ball might go over the top of the stump but you are still tempted to play at it because of his ability to slide the ball. Then suddenly he bowls a bouncer and it’s difficult for you to get away from it. He’s a difficult bowler to face. That's why I feel this bowling attack as a unit is very potent.”
Noteworthy, India and England will next lock horns in the third Test at Headingley from August 25.
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
