Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad praised Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj for his match-winning display in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Siraj, playing his fifth straight game of the series, showcased remarkable stamina and fighting spirit to guide India to a dramatic six-run win.
He turned the tide in the first innings by picking up four key wickets after England had reached a strong position at 129/1 in reply to India’s 224. However, it was his brilliant five-wicket haul in the final innings that proved decisive, as he dismantled England’s chase from a dominant 301/3 to 367 all out, falling just short of the 374-run target.
Speaking about Siraj’s performance on Sky Sports after the match, Broad remarked (4:36):
“I am delighted for Mohammad Siraj. Hopefully, I get an opportunity to shake his hands because I was worried yesterday that we would be talking about that catch ( Brook’s drop). And it would be the catch he would be boarding that plane home and going, ‘If I would have taken that catch, could things have been different?'”
He further added:
“For a bowler that’s given everything in this series, he deserved to get the final wicket and be remembered for bowling his team to an enthralling Test match victory rather than a mistake on the boundary.”
“India Deserved More From The Series” – Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad feels that the 2-2 series result was a just outcome, reflecting the strength and competitiveness of both India and England. With all five Tests stretching to the final day and both teams exchanging momentum throughout, he called it one of the most unforgettable series in recent memory.
“India definitely deserved something out of the series. If you look at all the Test matches, they could have won so they deserved something out of the series. Maybe not a win because England played some fantastic cricket as well,” said Broad (via the aforementioned source).
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