India’s fast bowler Mohammed Siraj is known to swing the ball away from the right-handers and he can also get the ball to swing back into the left-handers. Siraj gave a perfect start to the Indian team on Thursday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chhatogram after the tourists posted a par score of 404 runs.
The right-arm pacer struck on his first ball of the innings as he sent back Najmul Hossain Shanto with a fine delivery, which did enough to take the outside edge. Siraj then accounted for debutant Zakir Hasan with an accurate delivery as the youngster made the mistake of fishing at the outside off-stump delivery.
Siraj, who is known to have a word with the batter, then sledged Litton Das. The Hyderabad pacer was able to get into Das’ mind and the batter chopped the ball back onto the stumps as the pacer had the final laugh.
Siraj said he trusts bowling with wobble seam because he has savored success with it.
“In 2018 the incoming deliveries had completely stopped. At that time my outswing was working better,” he said in the presser. “So I was a bit confused as to why my in-swingers weren’t working. Then I decided to use the wobble seam because incoming deliveries are always a problem for batsmen. Because outswing is visible more clearly for the batsmen but when it comes in then it becomes difficult for the batsmen. So I used the wobble seam because it is quite effective like an off-cutter, I trust it more because I get success from it,” he added.
Siraj also revealed what he said to Litton Das, “No, nothing. I just said, ‘this isn’t the T20 format, this is Test cricket, play sensible cricket.’”
Siraj went on to add his aim was to bowl accurately and he was able to reap rewards for the same. The fast bowler finished the second day with impressive figures of 3-14 as he was right on the money.
“My approach was to bowl consistent stuff. This is the kind of wicket, where if you try too much then you leak runs. So the plan was to bowl consistently at one area at stumps… I will get success. If you bowl the stump line, it would be better, because from there the ball is staying low, and there is turn also. For fast bowlers also… stump line, there are chances of getting LBW.”
India is on top at stumps on Day 2 as Bangladesh is tottering at 133-8, still in arrears by 271 runs and requiring another 71 runs to avoid the follow-on.
