Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed his delight at getting to bowl on a green pitch on Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, October 2. The 31-year-old noted that seam-friendly tracks are rare in India, so he was thrilled to have the opportunity to bowl first.
West Indies, after winning the toss, chose to bat, but their decision did not pay off as they were bowled out for 162 in 44.1 overs. In reply, India ended the day at 121-2 after 38 overs. Siraj was the standout bowler for India, finishing with figures of 4-40 from 14 overs, while Jasprit Bumrah contributed 3-42 from his 14 overs.
At the close of play, the Hyderabad pacer shared his thoughts on the pitch conditions in Ahmedabad.
“We got a very good start with the ball. You don’t expect to get green tops in India too often. We got one here, so I was very excited. We got a seaming track when he played New Zealand in Bengaluru last year. After that, we got one here. So, I was very excited and enjoyed it a lot.”
The right-arm pacer said dismissing Brandon King was his most satisfying wicket, explaining why:
“I enjoyed Brandon King’s wicket. I have planned it in my mind and the execution was exactly as I wanted. The earlier balls were hitting the pads, so I thought I’ll bowl a stump line. I did exactly that and felt really good.”
“Wobble Seam Has Brought Me Great Success” – Mohammed Siraj
At the press conference, Mohammed Siraj acknowledged that incorporating the wobble seam into his arsenal has significantly improved his bowling. He shared that he dedicated extensive practice to mastering this delivery and is now enjoying the benefits. He elaborated:
“In 2018, I had a natural in-swinger. When the in-swingers stopped, the out-swingers started automatically. Then I started practicing the wobble seam delivery and grew confident about it. Wobble seam has given me a lot of success in international cricket. I have realized this is an important weapon for me. When the out-swinger doesn’t work, I have the wobble seam delivery.”
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