ENG vs IND: Should Mohammed Siraj be included in India’s XI for the 1st Test?
The last six months for the team have perhaps been one of the most enthralling phases when looked at from the perspective of new players making a mark. Ever since India embarked upon the tour of Australia and registered a historic victory in Border-Gavaskar Trophy beating countless odds, the team has witnessed a plethora of debuts across formats.
Making a splash
One of such brilliant talents has been Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj, who had a staggering debut series against Australia in their backyard. Siraj was only two Tests old when he got the task to lead the pace attack of the team at what was Australia’s fortress, the Gabba, with the four-match series level at 1-1.
Showcasing character, the young pacer bagged a match-winning five-wicket haul in the second innings to assist India to breach the Gabbatoir after nearly four decades and claim a historic series. Siraj finished as India’s highest wicket-taker during the Test series Down Under, having scalped 13 wickets in just three Tests.
The moment Mohammed Siraj broke through for his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket! @VodafoneAU | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xZgHvrVgZE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2021
He is now in the United Kingdom as a part of India’s 24-man squad for the five-Test series, which kickstarts the second World test Championship cycle. India recently lost the final of the inaugural edition of the championship against New Zealand, when the team preferred experience and the tried and tested pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.
It remains true that Siraj would not have gotten a chance in Australia had it not been for the spate of injuries, but he did everything right to grab on to the chance that came his way. He showed the maturity and composure of a seasoned campaigner, although with all three options available now, it seems unlikely that he will be a sure starter, even as he is expected to certainly get chances later in the series.
Team combination worries
Ishant has been one of India’s most experienced bowlers, while Shami and Bumrah have also established themselves as one of the mainstays in the unit. Given that the Indian tail never wags, the team would be tempted to play both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to have two spin options as well as the much-needed batting depth, which hurts Siraj’s case.
No matter how exciting the idea of including a bowler like Siraj appears, given he can bounce, seam and swing the ball both ways, and use the Dukes ball in English condition to the best of his advantage, it might not be too wise to compromise on batting depth to include him.
