Morne Morkel Praises Siraj’s Perseverance as India Pace Spearhead Shoulders Heavy Workload

India’s ongoing Test series against England has showcased the tireless efforts of Mohammed Siraj, who has bowled more overs than any other bowler — 181.2 — and leads the wicket-taking charts with 20 scalps. With Jasprit Bumrah featuring in only three matches, Siraj has shouldered the responsibility of spearheading India’s pace attack, a role that has drawn admiration from the team management.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel revealed that while there were concerns over Siraj’s heavy workload, the pacer’s determination to keep going was unwavering.

“There were conversations with him (before the fifth Test at The Oval) just to check about how he was feeling mentally and physically because of the amount of overs he had bowled, but he was the first guy to say, ‘Listen, I want to play this Test match, I want to win it for the team’,” Morkel said. “So, not just on the bowling front, but it’s the attitude that is great.”

Siraj’s relentless energy has been crucial for India, particularly in conditions where persistence and discipline were needed to break partnerships. Morkel praised the Hyderabad bowler’s willingness to push himself for the team. “He’s willing to run in all day. I’m not surprised, and that’s why he’s got the numbers,” he added.

India’s bowling strategy in the series has also been a point of debate. The team opted for three fast bowlers instead of the traditional four, a move that drew mixed reactions. Morkel defended the decision, explaining that the management prioritized batting depth.

“That was part of the conversation before every selection so far. We just felt — leading into the Test match — that going with the extra batter was going to be important. In the last two Test matches, our fourth seamer didn’t really bowl that much because Washi (Washington Sundar) and (Ravindra) Jadeja also could hold up a hand and bowl some overs,” he said.

According to Morkel, the idea was to ensure India had the runs needed to stay competitive. “They just thought that having a bit of extra runs on the board was more important,” he noted, adding that the balance of the attack will be reassessed once the series concludes.

For now, Siraj remains the standout performer of India’s bowling unit. His ability to step up in Bumrah’s partial absence has been vital to India’s campaign, and his perseverance has set the tone for the team’s fighting spirit.