During the first Test against England at Headingley, Mohammed Siraj found it difficult to make an impact with the ball. Despite bowling 27 overs in the first innings, he only managed to claim two wickets while conceding 122 runs. His performance didn’t improve in the second innings either, where he went wicketless and gave away 51 runs in 14 overs.
The pitch offered little help to the bowlers, but Siraj’s high economy rate—4.05—was still a concern. While Jasprit Bumrah impressed with a five-wicket haul, and Prasidh Krishna took three wickets albeit expensively, Siraj’s inability to contain the flow of runs became a major talking point.
Ashwin Questions Siraj’s Role and Discipline
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin addressed Siraj’s performance with some tough yet constructive criticism. He stressed that it’s not always about taking wickets, but also about maintaining control during long spells.
“My only question to Siraj is… can you dry up the run flow? You don’t have to pick up wickets. But can you not give away 4‑5 runs every over? If runs are being leaked, then you have to bring Bumrah back into the attack. How many dams will Bumrah be able to construct?”
Ashwin explained that consistent leaking of runs forces the team to over-rely on lead bowlers like Bumrah, which isn’t sustainable across long Test matches. He also hinted that bowlers need to play in rhythm with each other to apply collective pressure on the batting side.
The Need for Controlled Bowling and Partnership Support
Ashwin highlighted the importance of bowlers working in tandem and playing disciplined roles. Drawing inspiration from former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, he explained what Siraj could emulate.
“Remember how Morne Morkel used to bowl 2/43 in 20 overs? In Bazball, you might go for 2/58. That is the role Siraj has to play, and if he is effective in it, it would make a huge difference.”
He also recalled how Ishant Sharma effectively held one end by maintaining tight lines and economy, creating pressure even without picking wickets. Ashwin believes Siraj needs to adopt a similar approach and focus on containing runs, especially when paired with newer bowlers like Prasidh Krishna. Even if he can’t replicate Ishant exactly, Ashwin stressed that reducing run flow from one end is vital for the team’s success.
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