Mohammed Siraj Finding New Purpose
Mohammed Siraj has struggled during India’s home season. He only took six wickets in four Tests. Now in Australia, things have changed. He has already taken five wickets in Perth during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This change has given him new energy and purpose.
Mentorship and Mental Transformation
Siraj went through a time of self-reflection. He received important guidance from his mentors. He realized why he had been struggling. He wasn’t enjoying his bowling in Indian conditions. This was partly because spinners do most of the bowling there.
He sought advice from Bharat Arun, the former India bowling coach. Arun gave him valuable guidance. He told Siraj to focus on enjoying his bowling. This was more important than just trying to take wickets.
Mohammed Siraj Building Confidence with New Coaches
The current bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has helped build Siraj’s confidence. Morkel often calls him a “warrior.” He encourages him to keep enjoying the game.
Siraj has also worked with fielding coach Dilip in Hyderabad. These extra practice sessions have helped him. He has found his rhythm again. His confidence has returned.
Pink Ball Experience
Siraj recently played in Canberra against the Prime Minister’s XI. It was a practice game with the pink ball. He bowled well for seven overs and took one wicket.
He noticed some things about the pink ball:
- It feels synthetic
- It has a prominent seam
- It behaves differently from other balls
Siraj has learned to adjust his bowling for the pink ball. He found that bowling back of length works better. The ball doesn’t swing much when pitched up.
Looking Forward
Siraj is excited about the day-night Test in Adelaide. He hasn’t bowled under lights before. He wants to see how the ball behaves.
His partnership with Jasprit Bumrah has been helpful. Bumrah gave him good advice:
- Focus on bowling consistently in one area
- Don’t chase wickets too hard
The Australian conditions suit Siraj well. The pitches offer:
- Good pace
- Extra bounce
These conditions have helped his confidence. He can now express himself fully as a fast bowler. This helps him contribute more to the team’s success.
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