“Unreliable catcher”: Australian legend's brutal take on Mohammed Siraj’s costly error in 5th Test

Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh has shared his opinion on the much-talked-about moment from the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval. Mark Waugh spoke about how Mohammed Siraj’s missed catch of Harry Brook could take some of the shine off his otherwise stunning bowling performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

The surprising incident happened on Day 4 of the ongoing fifth and final Test at The Oval. England’s Harry Brook was batting on 19 when he played a shot off Prasidh Krishna. Mohammed Siraj, who had just returned to the field after a short break, ran in to take the catch near the boundary.

Mark Waugh slams Mohammed Siraj for game-changing mistake at The Oval

India’s fiery pacer Mohammed Siraj managed to hold on to the ball, but unfortunately, while completing the catch, his foot touched the boundary cushion. India lost the golden opportunity, and it turned into a six for Harry Brook. That moment turned out to be a big turning point in the match.

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Brook went on to score 111 runs; that was his 10th Test century and helped put England in a strong position to win the final Test and lift the trophy, as the hosts are now just 35 runs away from hammering India at The Oval.

Well, as a post on social media pointed out that Mohammed Siraj had been a tireless performer throughout the ongoing five-match Test series in England but might leave with a few regrets, Mark Waugh jumped in with a brutal assessment. The former Australian batter felt this one mistake might be remembered more than Siraj’s excellent efforts with the ball in England.

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Mark Waugh questions Mohammed Siraj’s reliability as a fielder

Furthermore, Waugh questioned Mohammed Siraj’s reliability as a fielder, calling the dropped catch a basic mistake at the international level. He felt Siraj wasn’t fully locked in when the moment came, as he was just coming from a short break off the field on Day 4 at The Oval.

Replying to a fan page’s post, Mark Waugh stated on X on August 4: “Regulation catch at this level. He’s a fairly unreliable catcher at the best of times. Unfortunately, he’d been off the field just before this and probably wasn’t fully focused.”

Regulation catch at this level. He’s a fairly unreliable catcher at the best of time. Unfortunately he’d been off the field just before this and probably wasn’t fully focused.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) August 4, 2025

Michael Atherton says England in control, but India can still fight back

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Atherton believes that the hosts are in a strong position to win the final Test, but he is not completely counting India out at The Oval.

Michael Atherton was quoted as saying by Sky Sports, “I think this is done (and that England will win), but given how this extraordinary series has gone, you wouldn't put your mortgage on it.”

He praised India’s never-give-up attitude and noted how they’ve fought back time and again in this Test series. However, England holds the upper hand, but Atherton feels an early wicket or two could still shift the momentum, as this Indian team will not easily lose the game.

Atherton signed off by saying, “You never give up in a Test match, and we have seen enough of this India team to know they will not quit; they will keep fighting. Every time they have looked down and out in this series, they have taken games deep, so don't rule out an early wicket. But England has the game in the palm of their hand.”

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