Mohammed Siraj - what a joyous day.

[BacktoCricaddict]

This topic may not deserve a thread of its own, but I am thrilled for Mohammed Siraj.  For two or more years, I have rooting for him and Saini to reach the top and keep the new Indian fast bowling pipeline alive and robust.  But opportunities were hard to come by.  Toiling in domestics and taking wickets by the bucketful in India-A matches was not enough to find slots for both of these guys in their best format - tests.  But, it was joyous to see Saini blow the door open in LOIs and announce that he is here to stay. 

 

Siraj's path has been more convoluted.  He has performed consistently in domestics and A-matches, but when the glare of the spotlight hit, he failed gloriously.  His best format was FC, but who watches those?  Performance in IPL and T20Is catches the public eye, and his performances have been horrible.  He was labeled a mental midget, as someone can't handle the big-time, an also-ran.  But, clearly, the man has persevered. 

 

And today, 4-2-8-3.  One can only hope that he has turned a corner.  And that India selectors have taken notice and will include him and Saini in the squad to Australia.    

Edited October 21, 2020 by BacktoCricaddict

[cricketfan28]

hopefully one more performance like this..

[Sooda]

I think it is more the case that he simply is not very good in limited overs- esp T20s... I am not sure if the selectors should take much notice of this spell given that Siraj is generally ordinary in List A/ T20... not the case that he has failed in the spotlight etc...

 

IIRC, there was a home series vs WI where he should have had his opportunity. He is a long format bowler

[Cricketics]

4 hours ago, Sooda said:

I think it is more the case that he simply is not very good in limited overs- esp T20s... I am not sure if the selectors should take much notice of this spell given that Siraj is generally ordinary in List A/ T20... not the case that he has failed in the spotlight etc...

 

IIRC, there was a home series vs WI where he should have had his opportunity. He is a long format bowler

 

 

Siraj doesn't have consistent yorker which doesn't make him a t20 bowler. He is more line or length at this time where if he doesn't get much assistance from the pitch, he might get taken apart. He does have a decent yorker which doesn't come much in t20 since he tries to bowl wide yorkers or changes up a lot of his line in order to contain top hitters and that doesn't end up going too well for him in t20s.

 

He is indeed a long format bowler at this time, unless he can use his strenght and develop yorkers and also a proper slow one. 

[Vk1]

Happy for him. But T20s isn't his strong format yet. He might even go for 45 in his next match.

[sandeep]

17 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

This topic may not deserve a thread of its own, but I am thrilled for Mohammed Siraj.  For two or more years, I have rooting for him and Saini to reach the top and keep the new Indian fast bowling pipeline alive and robust.  But opportunities were hard to come by.  Toiling in domestics and taking wickets by the bucketful in India-A matches was not enough to find slots for both of these guys in their best format - tests.  But, it was joyous to see Saini blow the door open in LOIs and announce that he is here to stay. 

 

Siraj's path has been more convoluted.  He has performed consistently in domestics and A-matches, but when the glare of the spotlight hit, he failed gloriously.  His best format was FC, but who watches those?  Performance in IPL and T20Is catches the public eye, and his performances have been horrible.  He was labeled a mental midget, as someone can't handle the big-time, an also-ran.  But, clearly, the man has persevered. 

 

And today, 4-2-8-3.  One can only hope that he has turned a corner.  And that India selectors have taken notice and will include him and Saini in the squad to Australia.    

He's a red ball bowler.  An attacking one that instinctively tends to bowl attacking lengths.  Those red ball lengths, on T20 tracks with the white ball, can go for runs, especially since he has pace.  And he doesn't yet have the experience and adaptability to deploy variety efficiently, the way say a Bhuvi does.  

 

Indian cricket does not know how to bring along young pace bowlers.  There's a reason why our 'best' bowlers almost always have better 2nd half of their career than first. Because they end up being 'self-taught'.  Zaheer is a textbook example of this.  Bumrah, the freak, is the one that has broken the mould.  I have never seen a young pace bowler from India, bowl with the tactical nous, and the ability to execute it, at pace, like he does.  Others have had pace, but its the brains and the 'game sense' which Boom is blessed with, that is rare.  

 

BCCI needs to send young Indians to county cricket early in their careers.  Siraj, Saini, and even younger ones like Mavi, Nagarkoti - those guys will develop so much better.

[BacktoCricaddict]

42 minutes ago, sandeep said:

He's a red ball bowler.  An attacking one that instinctively tends to bowl attacking lengths.  Those red ball lengths, on T20 tracks with the white ball, can go for runs, especially since he has pace.  And he doesn't yet have the experience and adaptability to deploy variety efficiently, the way say a Bhuvi does.  

 

Indian cricket does not know how to bring along young pace bowlers.  There's a reason why our 'best' bowlers almost always have better 2nd half of their career than first. Because they end up being 'self-taught'.  Zaheer is a textbook example of this.  Bumrah, the freak, is the one that has broken the mould.  I have never seen a young pace bowler from India, bowl with the tactical nous, and the ability to execute it, at pace, like he does.  Others have had pace, but its the brains and the 'game sense' which Boom is blessed with, that is rare.  

 

BCCI needs to send young Indians to county cricket early in their careers.  Siraj, Saini, and even younger ones like Mavi, Nagarkoti - those guys will develop so much better.

Unfortunately, the only way to get noticed is to do well in the IPL or become indispensable in LOIs.  Am glad Siraj has checked one of those boxes now. Selectors may now look beyond U Yadav. Right now, getting him and Saini into the red ball squad is important, based on whatever logic.    

Edited October 22, 2020 by BacktoCricaddict

[maniac]

He is going to be the next Ishant Sharma. As Ordinary as they come on a bad day but world class match winner who can single handedly win you games when in rhythm when he gets it right.

 

Dont expect a 22-23 averaging 400+ wicket bowler but a 180-200 wicket 28.00 averaging bowler who will win  you a couple of crucial tests/series

Edited October 22, 2020 by maniac

[nevada]

1 hour ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Unfortunately, the only way to get noticed is to do well in the IPL or become indispensable in LOIs.  Am glad Siraj has checked one of those boxes now. Selectors may now look beyond U Yadav. Right now, getting him and Saini into the red ball squad is important, based on whatever logic.    

Yes, that's true. IPL gets more eyeballs than anything else. Going for runs is a given but some young bowlers like Tyagi and Arshdeep have shown good tactical ability and seem to relish the challenge rather than get overawed by it. Among spinners, Tewatia has done well in a few games and even excelled as a batsman. Bishnoi has also impressed, though he could end up being one dimensional due to total reliance on the googly. I hope Siraj has a couple more good performances this season. 

[maniac]

13 minutes ago, nevada said:

Yes, that's true. IPL gets more eyeballs than anything else. Going for runs is a given but some young bowlers like Tyagi and Arshdeep have shown good tactical ability and seem to relish the challenge rather than get overawed by it. Among spinners, Tewatia has done well in a few games and even excelled as a batsman. Bishnoi has also impressed, though he could end up being one dimensional due to total reliance on the googly. I hope Siraj has a couple more good performances this season. 

Arshdeep love his attitude but not international standard yet. Tyagi is the real deal. He has jumped over the pecking order.

 

Siraj should be the test specialist in the Ishant mode kept away from LOIs 

[sandeep]

4 hours ago, maniac said:

He is going to be the next Ishant Sharma. As Ordinary as they come on a bad day but world class match winner who can single handedly win you games when in rhythm when he gets it right.

 

Dont expect a 22-23 averaging 400+ wicket bowler but a 180-200 wicket 28.00 averaging bowler who will win  you a couple of crucial tests/series

Now do Ben Duckett and Jermaine Blackwood.

[sandeep]

5 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Unfortunately, the only way to get noticed is to do well in the IPL or become indispensable in LOIs.  Am glad Siraj has checked one of those boxes now. Selectors may now look beyond U Yadav. Right now, getting him and Saini into the red ball squad is important, based on whatever logic.    

Selectors took note of him with his big wicket hauls in couple of good Ranji seasons.  But a lot of those were because he could bully FC batsmen with pace.  Gets harder to do that as he levels up.  But the problem is that he's a specific type of bowling prospect - Not every bowler can, or needs to be, Glenn McGrath.  You can find roles and extract role player value from different 'types' as well.  I mean, its a bit of a stretch, but think back to Brett Lee's early days - he got to come in and be part of a unit that had McGrath, Dizzy in it.  And was given the freedom to just attack.  Give a guy like Siraj that sort of scope, and he may live up to it.  Or not.  Who knows.  

 

Point is, in today's cricket age, where international coaching and know-how are easily accessible, its criminal how bad India's conversion ratio from pace-bowling prospects, to top calibre international class pace bowlers is.  

[BacktoCricaddict]

1 hour ago, sandeep said:

Selectors took note of him with his big wicket hauls in couple of good Ranji seasons.  But a lot of those were because he could bully FC batsmen with pace.  Gets harder to do that as he levels up.  But the problem is that he's a specific type of bowling prospect - Not every bowler can, or needs to be, Glenn McGrath.  You can find roles and extract role player value from different 'types' as well.  I mean, its a bit of a stretch, but think back to Brett Lee's early days - he got to come in and be part of a unit that had McGrath, Dizzy in it.  And was given the freedom to just attack.  Give a guy like Siraj that sort of scope, and he may live up to it.  Or not.  Who knows.  

 

Point is, in today's cricket age, where international coaching and know-how are easily accessible, its criminal how bad India's conversion ratio from pace-bowling prospects, to top calibre international class pace bowlers is.  

The A-team red ball performances were more impressive, IMO, than the domestic wicket hauls.  I think he had an 8-56 against an Aussie-A squad.   His confidence was cresting then and I wish he had gotten a red-ball chance then.

[beetle]

Siraj should get some help with mental conditioning. He gets too overwhelmed in internationals. At least he did last time he played a big match. Hope he does well in the remaining matches and builds his confidence.

[nevada]

19 hours ago, maniac said:

Arshdeep love his attitude but not international standard yet. Tyagi is the real deal. He has jumped over the pecking order.

 

Siraj should be the test specialist in the Ishant mode kept away from LOIs 

I am not looking beyond IPL for either of them, because it's unrealistic to view every new Indian player as national team material. They are holding their head up high instead of just serving as cannon fodder like Unadkat. That's good enough for now. 

[coffee_rules]

Amazing story of India, Aadmi Dil ka sachcha hain. Very candid the way he talks. Big success Story from Hyderabad. I’d shake in my boots when I faced bowlers, Thalia’s advice to him is very practical. They should not read ICF or SM. 
 

 

[BacktoCricaddict]

19 hours ago, coffee_rules said:

Amazing story of India, Aadmi Dil ka sachcha hain. Very candid the way he talks. Big success Story from Hyderabad. I’d shake in my boots when I faced bowlers, Thalia’s advice to him is very practical. They should not read ICF or SM. 
 

 

Damn.  Wiping the tears off my keyboard.  Wishing nothing but the best for him and others like him.  A few observations:

 

(1) On balance, IPL is an awesome phenomenon.  It gives a lifeline for many talented young men.

(2) Siraj's starry-eyed innocence is likeable, but may also have been a liability in his early days.  The emotion of playing for India, of being beside his heroes, the (sur)reality of it all probably got the better of him.  Hopefully, that is all behind him now.

(3) Almost makes me want to be an RCB fan.  Almost.

 

Can't wait to see him get a test cap in a month or two.  

 

[Vijy]

Siraj is/was better suited for Tests. TM has, as always, played him in the wrong format. Lots of players getting dismantled because of poor handling: Pant is another example.

[BacktoCricaddict]

15 hours ago, Vijy said:

Siraj is/was better suited for Tests. TM has, as always, played him in the wrong format. Lots of players getting dismantled because of poor handling: Pant is another example.

More than TM, selectors are responsible for putting him in the wrong squad. 

 

Also, see how his IPL performance propelled him into the test team?  It's like "Oh haan ... doh saal pehle we talked about this guy. He is doing well in IPL. But he's a test bowler.  Chal, naam add kar lete hain."  Irrational, but welcome in this case.  

Edited October 29, 2020 by BacktoCricaddict

[nevada]

12 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

More than TM, selectors are responsible for putting him in the wrong squad. 

 

Also, see how his IPL performance propelled him into the test team?  It's like "Oh haan ... doh saal pehle we talked about this guy. He is doing well in IPL. But he's a test bowler.  Chal, naam add kar lete hain."  Irrational, but welcome in this case.  

He could have been picked for tests 1-2 years ago itself but better late than never! Hope he gets to play and does well.