Not Bumrah, Wasim Akram Names Leader Of Indian Bowling Attack: 'Full Of Hunger...'
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram praised Siraj's stamina and mental strength.
It's been close to a week since India drew the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 with a 6-wicket win against England at the Oval. But people can't stop praising Mohammed Siraj, who turned the tide with a ferocious spell on the final day of the fifth Test match.
England needed 36 runs to win with four wickets in hand. The game seemed to be in England's favour, especially after twin hundreds, from Joe Root and Harry Brook. But the final day saw Siraj helping India pull off a terrific return to win the game. He returned 5 for 104 in the second innings, completing a 9-wicket match haul. He even ended the series as the highest wicket-taker for India with 23 scalps under his belt.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was highly impressed with Siraj's performance on the English tour. Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, he called Siraj a 'fighter'
'I rarely watch cricket when I'm not working, but I was glued to the last day. Siraj was full of hunger and passion – it was an incredible effort. To bowl nearly 186 overs across five Tests and still be that fiery on the final day shows remarkable stamina and mental strength," Akram said.
'He's not just a support bowler anymore. He's leading the attack and doing it with heart. Even when a catch went down– that of Brook – he didn't lose focus. That's the mark of a fighter. Test cricket is alive and kicking," he added.
Siraj played all five Test matches and bowled over 180 overs without showing any signs of fatigue. He led India's pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who featured in only three matches in order to manage his workload.
The Hyderabad pacer might have struggled to find his rhythm at the beginning of the series, but he ended up as a hero.
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