'We Did Not Expect That From A Player Who Was Playing In His First Test' : Sridharan Sriram On Mohammed Siraj's Performance In Australia

Australia’s assistant coach Sridharan Sriram went on to recall India’s stunning win in Brisbane earlier this year. Australia suffered a seven-wicket loss and lost their second consecutive home Test series against India after losing at the Gabba for the first time in 32 years. Sridharan Sriram underlined that they did not expect the newcomers to play as well as they did.

Led by Virat Kohli, India lost the first Test convincingly by eight wickets but won the second Test, drew the third, and won the fourth one. The visitors registered an emphatic three-wicket win on the final day of the fourth game by chasing more than 320 as Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rishabh Pant made half-centuries of the highest quality.

Sridharan Sriram recalled that half-centuries from Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur in India’s first innings whittled down Australia’s lead to 23 after the hosts made 369. The former Indian cricketer felt that a lead of 80-100 in the first innings could have made Australia’s job easier and that the century-stand between Sundar and Thakur played a big part in the fourth innings chase of 328.

“Even in Brisbane, when India were 186/6 in the first innings, Washington and Shardul had that partnership (123) that took India very close to Australian total (Australia 369, India 336). If Australia took a lead of 80 or 100 runs, the second innings would have been easier for us. For India to chase down 328 in the last innings, the first innings partnership for the seventh wicket between Shardul and Washington played a massive part,” Sriram said as quoted by News18.com

Sridharan Sriram heaps praises on Mohammed Siraj:

Sridharan Sriram also lauded Mohammed Siraj and was taken aback by the accuracy and discipline he maintained throughout the series. The 45-year old felt surprised by a bowler performing exquisitely in his maiden Test series.

“And for Siraj to bowl the way he did in Melbourne, the accuracy he showed, even on a flat pitch in Sydney, to have that discipline and economy, keeping one end tight, we did not expect that from a player who was playing in his first Test,” he added.

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