Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj grabbed all the headlines after he achieved a special feat with Zak Crawley’s wicket in the latter stages of day 3 of the ongoing fifth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 test against England. India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj ended Day 3 of the fifth Test against England on a high as he got the prized scalp of Zak Crawley just before stumps at the Oval. Set a target of 374 runs in the fourth innings, England once again off to a terrific start as openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 50 runs for the first wicket.
With England just two balls away from going into Day 4 without losing any wickets, Mohammed Siraj decided to bluff Crawley as he brought deep square leg out on the boundary to give an indication of bowling a short delivery. However, Mohammed Siraj caught the England opener off guard with a yorker, which shattered into his stumps.
As a result, India got the priceless wicket on the verge of stumps and ended a dominating day on a high. The smart work by captain Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj also earned praise from Cheteshwar Pujara, who hailed them for their marvellous plan.
Shubman Gill’s Masterplan Helped Mohammed Siraj Bamboozle Zak Crawley
In what turned out to be the last ball of the third day’s play in the 5th Test between India and England at the Kennington Oval, pacer Mohammed Siraj bowled an absolute peach to dismiss Zak Crawley. The slower yorker caught the England opening batter by surprise, as it seemed like he was preparing for a different sort of delivery from the India pacer.
However, it was all in the making, all part of the plan by India captain Shubman Gill, who seemed to have tricked Crawley into thinking that a short-pitched delivery was to be bowled by Mohammed Siraj next. The wicket earned India a much-needed respite as the tourists look to defend the 374-run target given to England in the 5th and final Test.
With England opening duo of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting up another 50-run stand for the first wicket, India skipper Gill needed something to happen before stumps on Day 4. This is when a master plan was plotted with the help of Siraj.
It was Crawley who looked to repeat the Lord’s Test tactics by wasting time but Gill avoided getting into a confrontation this time. The India skipper decided to push square leg back, making Crawley think that a bouncer is coming in next by Mohammed Siraj who has been as expressive as he always is in this Test.
Mohammed Siraj, however, left Crawley absolutely stunned by delivering a slower yorker, which the England opening batter had no answer for. The precision of the delivery earned Siraj and India a prized wicket, while Crawley had to return to the dressing room in the final over of the day.
With Crawley’s wicket, Mohammed Siraj went on to achieve a special feat as the 31-year-old completed 100 wickets outside of India. He joined the likes of Zaheer Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and several others on the list.
Most wickets by an Indian pacer in tests outside home soil:
Kapil Dev-215
Zaheer Khan – 207
Ishant Sharma – 207
Jasprit Bumrah – 172
Mohammed Shami – 153
Javagal Srinath – 128
Mohammed Siraj – 100
Team India is in a commanding position ahead of day 4 of the fifth Test against England. Taking on the side at The Oval in London, the visitors have put in a good performance so far. Coming in to bat first, India posted a total of 224 runs in the first innings and went on to limit England to a score of 247 runs.
Furthermore, amassing 396 runs in the second innings, day 3 of the clash ended with England aiming to chase down a target of 374 runs. They lost a wicket early into the run chase, and it was all thanks to India’s in-form star Mohammed Siraj. The star pacer beat England opener Zak Crawley, and the batter was dismissed with a score of 14 runs. Speaking about how he feels pride in playing for India , the workhorse Mohammed Siraj pours his heart out at the Post press conference on Day 3.
“Playing for India gives me extreme pride ” exclaims Mohammed Siraj at the end of Day 3
In the two Tests that Jasprit Bumrah has skipped in the ongoing Test series between India and England, Mohammed Siraj has admirably stepped up in his absence to not only lead the pace attack but also guide fellow pacers. 11 of his 18 wickets so far in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy have come when Bumrah hasn’t been part of the India XI and it includes a six-fer in the 2nd Test that the visitors won by 336 runs.
While Mohammed Siraj admits missing Bumrah’s guidance but says his confidence does go up a notch when it’s him who has to be the leader of the pack.
“To be honest, I love responsibility. I’m missing Jassi because he’s a senior bowler and tells us what kind of deliveries to bowl to a certain batter. I feel good when given responsibility, gives you extra confidence and I enjoy that. I don’t take any pressure, stick to may plan,” Mohammed Siraj told Dinesh Karthik in a video shared by Sky Sports.
While the focus has been on preserving Bumrah and managing his workload, Siraj has played in all five Tests, bowling relentlessly with no fitness concerns whatsoever.
“First of all, I love to play for the country. To be honest, I’m not thinking about breaking down. All I’m thinking about is the match. I love giving everything for the country. I have a simple plan: give everything and results will follow,” he said.
The 31-year-old, was out for a four-ball duck in India’s first innings and says every time he gets out early, it leaves him disappointed as he works hard on his batting in the nets.
“I was very disappointed (after getting out in the first innings) because I bat a lot in the nets and when I don’t deliver in the game, it feels like I have let the team down,” he concluded.
Facing a huge target, England’s openers started positively, looking to chip away at the total. However, the day ended with a moment of high drama and skill. On the very last ball, Mohammed Siraj produced a searing yorker to bowl Zak Crawley, sending a jolt through the England camp. That single wicket has dramatically shifted the balance of the match, leaving England to chase a historic target with nine wickets in hand, while India needs just eight more to complete a remarkable comeback and draw the series 2-2.
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