Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has revealed Team India’s bold bowling strategy against Travis Head on day two of the World Test Championship (WTC) final in a stunning reveal. The plan was to unleash a barrage of bouncers on Heads regardless of the outcome. The plan paid off, as Head went unbeaten on Day 1 with 146, but was eventually sent off on Day 2 with 163. In this article, we take a look at the reasons behind India’s decision and Mohammed Siraj‘s thoughts on the match.
Mohammed Siraj opened up on the strategy to get rid of the dangerous looking Travis Head in the 1st innings
We decided to bowl only bouncers to Head and if we get hit from there, then so be it. We stuck to it and got success.” – Mohammed Siraj.
Tactical approach
India postponed the adoption of short-ball tactics until the second day, despite Head’s concerns about rising pitches on the first day. The decision puzzled cricket pundits, who wondered why India had taken so long to implement this strategy against well-positioned left-handed batsmen.
At the end of the second day, Siraj explained India’s bowling plans. He explained: “We decided that we would just hit the bouncer on the head and then it would be fine if he hit us from there. We stuck with it and we succeeded. rice field” I used the rebound yesterday as well, but my chance was in the gap. ”
Exquisite balance
Siraj Heads, while acknowledging the exceptional innings, conceded that India could have executed their bowling plan more effectively on the first day. When India won the toss, they initially took advantage of sticky bounces and seam movements. However, a steady swing from six meters long was lacking for the batsman to settle in with relief. “After that, I didn’t have enough momentum from the six-metre length, and the batsmen hit it easily,” admitted Siraj. The sound of the head was also unusually good. I could have bowled with a better line.
2nd day assignment
The second day of the WTC Finals was marked by faster pitches and uneven bounces at The Oval. Siraj emphasized the change in conditions and explained as follows. “We bowled well, too, but the way Head hit forced us to push back our own lengths.” stressed and it has been difficult for the Indian bowlers to find a rhythm consistently.
Siraj performance and sportsmanship
Siraj’s individual performance in this match cannot be overlooked as he scored a staggering 4/108 from 28.3 overs in Australia’s first innings, scoring a total of 469 runs. But the pacemaker also made headlines in an incident involving Australian centurion Steve Smith. While Siraj was running to the bowling alley, a frustrated pacer threw the ball towards the Stamps after Smith saved the throw. In his media interactions, Siraj downplayed the incident, simply saying “nothing happened.”
“It was nothing. I was just enjoying. It is important to do that as it is a long day.” – Mohammed Siraj (on throwing the ball at Steve Smith)
Conclusion
India’s strategic move to deploy a bowling-only bouncer against Travis Head in the WTC Finals showed India’s willingness to experiment and adapt to the situation. Mohammed Siraj’s explanation laid out the rationale for the plan, which ultimately paid off. Despite missing several chances on the first day and the challenges posed by Head’s exceptional innings, the Indian bowling attack showed resilience and determination. As the match progresses, it remains to be seen how the team will further strategize and execute plans to gain an advantage in this crucial matchup.
“Despite a few missed opportunities on Day 1 and the challenge posed by Head’s exceptional innings, the Indian bowling attack showed resilience and determination.”
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