Ahead of the 5-Test series against England, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has fired a cheeky warning to Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and their Bazballers, saying that the Test matches would end within two days in case the visitors play attacking cricket against the quality Indian bowlers in their home conditions.
Stokes and McCullum have been “creating memories” for their team, emboldening their batters to play with utmost freedom—no more embodied than in Joe Root’s reverse ramps—and take the opposition head-on. Under the pair of Stokes and McCullum, England have won 13 out of 18 Tests and have not lost a series yet.
But will Bazball work in India? India have not lost a Test series at home since 2012. While India’s spinners—R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and now with the addition of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav—have been the primary reason for their success at home, India’s pacers, too, have significantly outbowled the opposition pacers.
It is not easy here to hit every ball: Mohammed Siraj
A few days ago, India’s spearhead pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, already claimed that England’s aggressive batting style could reap him plenty of wickets. Mohammed Siraj, Bumrah’s new-ball bowling partner, has now echoed similar sentiments.
Siraj pointed out that the pitches in India are not conducive to attacking batting because of the variable turn and seam movement the surfaces offer.
In an interview with JioCinema ahead of the first Test in Hyderabad, Mohammed Siraj said, “If they try to play Bazball in Indian conditions then think the match is likely to end in 1.5-2 days. It is not easy here to hit every ball. The ball turns sometimes, sometimes it stays straight. If they play Bazball here then it is good for us because the match will end quickly.”
The Gang 🖤 pic.twitter.com/HsaQTvQPeJ
— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) January 23, 2024
Mohammed Siraj is coming off a sensational six-wicket haul against South Africa in Cape Town. He has taken 68 wickets in 23 Test matches in his career so far, but has only 7 wickets in 6 home Tests, though he’s bowled only 59 overs across those 6 Tests.
