NUMBERS GAME: Why does Mohammed Siraj struggle in Tests in India?

A spectacular overhead catch of Shakib Al Hasan, shortly before India’s momentous Test win over Bangladesh in Kanpur, might be the only highlight of Mohammed Siraj’s first series back from a month’s break.

The right-arm seamer has been among India’s busiest bowlers over the last few seasons, emerging as a vital member in the Test and ODI set-ups. Siraj has sent down 728 overs across formats since January 2022, the most among all Indian pacers, with only spinners R Ashwin (786.3) and Ravindra Jadeja (771.2) ahead of him. The next-best pacer, the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah, has bowled 582 overs to amass 128 wickets, five more than Siraj in the period.

The Hyderabad pacer has troubled oppositions in nearly every tour and condition he has played in. He is a nemesis for the Sri Lankans in limited-overs, topped the charts in his debut Test series in Australia, skittled South Africa with a blighting 6/15 in Cape Town during the shortest-ever Test in January this year, and even worked the wobble-seam charm to good effect in England in 2021.

But when it comes to the red SG ball and home Tests, Siraj struggles to keep up with his peers. Twelve of his 29 Test appearances have been at home, with only 17 of his overall 78 wickets emerging from them.

“It is harsh to say that Siraj is not as effective as Bumrah and Shami in the Indian conditions. Yes, he does depend on lateral movement from the surface. One thing that people must understand is that Siraj was never an out-and-out swing bowler. If you see his release point, he takes the ball away from the left-handed batters and bowls nip-backers to the right-handed batters,” former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey tells The Indian Express.

With injuries and workload management often affecting the main cast, Siraj has made more Test appearances than any other pacer at home in the last three years. The first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai was a deviation from normalcy where India roped in three pacers – Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep – for the first time since 2019 at home. India maintained order in the second Test too, as Siraj bagged only four wickets from as many innings, the least among the quicks.

Home troubles

Of the seven Indian pacers who have played at least 10 Tests at home since 2010, Siraj remains the least effective. His average of 34.52 is the worst while a 59.9 strike rate only overshadows Ishant Sharma (71.4).

India pacers at home since 2010:

Bumrah, the otherworldly outlier, stands at the far end of the spectrum from two fewer appearances than Siraj. In 10 Tests, India’s pace spearhead has accounted for 44 wickets with a stunning 15.47 average and 32.4 strike rate, nearly twice as efficient as Siraj.

With Bumrah channelling his unique strengths, Siraj would relate himself to the role that Umesh Yadav and Shami bore in whites at home. Umesh has been the most prolific pacer since 2010, amassing 101 wickets in 32 appearances at a 25.88 average. Shami, second, has totalled 76 wickets at 22.10 in 21 Tests.

Siraj, in this regard, remains a mercurial asset in the long format. On his day he can dismantle line-ups within a solitary burst, as he did during a thrilling win in Cape Town earlier this year.

With an injured Shami’s return in limbo, Siraj will be bracing for heightened responsibilities during India’s upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia. It will also mean that Siraj will remain among the pace chiefs in home Tests for the foreseeable future, where his middling returns could soon fall under the scanner.

While former bowling coach Mhambrey lauds Siraj for mastering the wobble seam, he concurs that the 30-year-old is still a work in progress with the red ball at home.

The lack of conventional swing and constant rummaging for inward seam movement has impacted Siraj’s early numbers at home, channelling him towards a defensive role with the ball.

“Without a doubt, Siraj’s skill level is very high. In Indian conditions, he is not getting that many wickets because his role is different. If Bumrah is bowling from one end, Siraj tries to keep the other end tight (on Indian pitches). This is what the captain expects from him,” Mhambrey explains.

However, Siraj has leaked runs at 3.50 per over – the worst among all pacers at home since 2010 – foiling his effectiveness in building pressure from an end.

Mhambrey believes the right-armer’s natural action and tendency to pitch deliveries on the middle-and-leg stump line magnifies his deficiencies.

“His reverse swing is not as effective as the likes of Shami or Umesh Yadav. It is very difficult to bowl reverse swing from that action. In Shami’s case, he has that impeccable seam presentation, he beats the batters (both right and left) in the air. With Umesh, he used to get the reverse swing because of his slingy action. Add to that, both of them are also quicker than Siraj,” Mhambrey remarks.

The upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand will therefore serve as a specific litmus test for Siraj before India opens up to other seam combinations and the return of a three-man spin attack.

(With inputs from Pratyush Raj)

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