Md Siraj : Can he be our next multiformat star bowler ?

[Number]

Has done well in all the tests he played.

 

In ODIs played in India against SA, he bowled well with the new ball. Then excelled at death overs against beasts like Miller.

 

Did well in both the T20s here.

 

After Bumrah and to an extent Shami (who was poor in T20s due to his waywardness) he seems to be one bowler who can do well in all formats.

 

The ingredients he has are very similar to what Bumrah had

 

a) Hits the ball hard on the pitch with high arm and extracts movement from it.

b) Can float the ball when it is swinging in the air.

c) Sharp bounce from good length area.

d) Does not have that killer yorker which Bumrah has but he is pretty accurate with it.

e) I saw him bowl some good slower balls in ODIs death. Needs to be seen how he can use them in T20s.

 

Generally bowls in 130-137 kmph range but cranks upto 148 at times.

 

Thoughts ??

 

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by Number

[rkt.india]

Don't want multiformat players. Even Bumrah struggles to adjust to different formats. T20 squad should be completely different having no test player.

[Majestic]

He can and he should. Atleast if not in terms of numbers then in terms of delivering in big games, I hope he contributes like say, how Hazelwood did in T20s.

 

Siraj is the obvious candidate after Bumrah and Shami and I expect him to join the list of quality all format Indian fast bowlers which includes the likes of Dev, Srinath, Zaheer, Shami and Bumrah. 

[putrevus]

No, he cannot be.

[rkt.india]

Siraj is only three months younger than Bumrah 

[wanted_desi]

I think he should focus more on Test matches and maybe ODIs here and there. We really lack anyone in Test matches ATM.

[cricketfan28]

Too much workload, better to curtail it atleast for fast bowlers.

[express bowling]

4 hours ago, Number said:

 

Generally bowls in 130-137 kmph range but cranks upto 148 at times.

 

 

 

Siraj bowls at all kinds of speeds.

 

Was consistently bowling 138 k to 144 k in the first innings in the last test he played in England. 

 

Operates in the entire range of 128 k to 148 k. His yorkers are usually around 145 k and he is one of the rare pacers whose bouncers clock the highest speeds, often in the 144 to 148 k area.

Edited November 22, 2022 by express bowling

[vvvslaxman]

For T20 no player should be permanent. Not even Kohli, SKY. Assess the current form every now and then and select. Selection of players based on "potential" makes no sense in T20. Form, conditions, balance should be the criteria. Not reputation.

[Lord]

fast bowlers should be format specific. Too much cricket these days to keep playing all formats

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, express bowling said:

 

 

Siraj bowls at all kinds of speeds.

 

Was consistently bowling 138 k to 144 k in the first innings in the last test he played in England. 

 

Operates in the entire range of 128 k to 148 k. His yorkers are usually around 145 k and he is one of the rare pacers whose bouncers clock the highest speeds, often in the 144 to 148 k area.

He is someone who goes opposite with pace. Usually bowlers slows the pace to deceive. He ups the pace. Bouncer to Phillips was an example of beating him with sudden high pace. Previous deliveries in mid 130s and bouncer 145.

Edited November 22, 2022 by rkt.india

[Vijy]

siraj should only play tests and maybe a smattering of ODIs/T20s.

[Adamant]

He is a bloody good bowler, he will have great days where he blows the opposition apart and also many days where he would be very expensive. 

 

His method of operation is totally different to any other bowler we have. 

 

1. He pitches the ball up way more than Bumrah and that's why he gets punished too. 

 

2. Can pick wickets with both the new and old ball and is super threatening with the new one. He has good pace and extracts good bounce so can be deadly with old ball too, needs to add reverse swing to his arsenal and we will have a 25-27 averaging test bowler. 

 

3. Can execute yorkers and bouncers both equally threatening. 

 

4. The intensity with which he bowls is insane, only Pat cummins comes close. Extra effort on every ball

 

Because he is an out and out attacking bowler, there comes some disadvantages too

 

1. Will go for plenty on off days which will come often.

2. Hardly bowls cross seam so the tradeoff is lesser control. 

3. As of now because he has Shami and Bumrah he has lesser responsibility and is basically our enforcer, if he becomes a lead bowler he would have to suppress his attacking game, Starc has Hazelwood and Cummins to take care of run rate,  we also need Prasidh or Karthik to develop into a good test bowler. 

[Nikhil_cric]

No he cannot. Multiform bowlers are not sustainable. 

[putrevus]

1 hour ago, Adamant said:

He is a bloody good bowler, he will have great days where he blows the opposition apart and also many days where he would be very expensive. 

 

His method of operation is totally different to any other bowler we have. 

 

1. He pitches the ball up way more than Bumrah and that's why he gets punished too. 

 

2. Can pick wickets with both the new and old ball and is super threatening with the new one. He has good pace and extracts good bounce so can be deadly with old ball too, needs to add reverse swing to his arsenal and we will have a 25-27 averaging test bowler. 

 

3. Can execute yorkers and bouncers both equally threatening. 

 

4. The intensity with which he bowls is insane, only Pat cummins comes close. Extra effort on every ball

 

Because he is an out and out attacking bowler, there comes some disadvantages too

 

1. Will go for plenty on off days which will come often.

2. Hardly bowls cross seam so the tradeoff is lesser control. 

3. As of now because he has Shami and Bumrah he has lesser responsibility and is basically our enforcer, if he becomes a lead bowler he would have to suppress his attacking game, Starc has Hazelwood and Cummins to take care of run rate,  we also need Prasidh or Karthik to develop into a good test bowler. 

The one he moves away to left handers from over the wicket is bowled using cross seam only. I don't think anyone in India bowls that delivery.

[tapandrun]

No, Ind should only play him Test and may be few ODIs (as suggested by others as well), his kind of mindset is needed in test where a bowler can keep coming at the batter all day long. If Ind shifts his attention to T20s then TM would want him to develop slower balls, slow bouncers - typical variation of T20 bowler, which are not suited for a Test bowler.

 

Let him be the 2/3 fast bowler in Test, selection should be format specific. Teams has moved away form having same coaches in all the format why should Ind stuck to old thinking of all format bowlers/batters.

 

Ind is already seeing the dire results of all format batters with Ind top-3 have same kind of SR and same approach and not able to play t20 in right sprit. Only SKY looked to have a clear mind  because he is cluttered with all format batter aspirations.

 

 

 

 

[vvvslaxman]

Was going to be our red balls star. Tests are still his best format. I am glad he stepped up big time in the absence of Bumrah in the one dayers. He has achieved his highest ODI ranking. no.3 in the world.  May be we can keep him away from T20. 

 

https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/player-rankings/odi

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by vvvslaxman

[helperononline]

He is terrific  bowler I was  somewhat surprised when he got dropped for couple of series

He should be played more in ODI and Test format while we should continue t20 format with bumrah,ashdeep and umran

[rollingstoned]

10 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Was going to be our red balls star. Tests are still his best format. I am glad he stepped up big time in the absence of Bumrah in the one dayers. He has achieved his highest ODI ranking. no.3 in the world.  May be we can keep him away from T20. 

 

https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/player-rankings/odi

 

In time Nehra might be proved right. He stuck his neck out then. 

Siraj is more skilful than Bumrah: Ashish Nehra | Sports News,The Indian Express

[vvvslaxman]

17 minutes ago, rollingstoned said:

In time Nehra might be proved right. He stuck his neck out then. 

Siraj is more skilful than Bumrah: Ashish Nehra | Sports News,The Indian Express

 

For someone who started bowling in 2015 this is a remarkable progress.