Mohammed Siraj set to return for the 3rd Test, will replace this player in the playing XI

India and England will play the third Test of the five-match series against each other at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Mohammed Siraj is expected to return to the side after being rested for the second Test.

The series is currently leveled 1-1 after the hosts made a good comeback winning the second Test after suffering a 28-run defeat in Hyderabad in the first Test. The Indian squad for the remaining three Tests will be announced soon and there can be a lot of changes in the squad.

The third Test between India and England will commence on February 15, Thursday and it is a good opportunity for both teams to take a lead in this series. Mohammed Siraj will be back in the XI as per ESPNcricinfo and will replace Mukesh Kumar in the XI who did not have an auspicious second Test match.

Mohammed Siraj bowled 11 overs in the Hyderabad Test but failed to take any wickets on his home ground. He is set to return to the Playing XI in the Rajk0t Test and will most likely partner with Jasprit Bumrah as the pace duo for India in the third Test.

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Mohammed Siraj is known for his bowling in the longer formats and has shown a lot of potential with the red ball recently. He registered his best figures in Test cricket recently during India’s tour of South Africa where he took 6/15 in the first innings of the Cape Town Test. He has been an important asset for the team in both red and white-ball formats.

Mohammed Siraj established himself as a Test bowler during the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2020-21 as he led an inexperienced pace bowling lineup against the mighty Aussies. He was brilliant against England during the 2021 Test series where he took India home at the Lords taking eight wickets in the match. The series was drawn 2-2 in the end.

Mohammed Siraj Has A Better Away Record Than Home

Mohammed Siraj’s record in Test cricket is better when it comes to Away matches especially in SENA countries. He has played 17 away Test matches and has taken 61 wickets at an average of 28.66. Whereas in India, he has played seven Test matches and has taken only seven wickets and has no five-wicket hauls to his name in home Test matches. He has one five-wicket haul in the West Indies, Australia, and South Africa each and has four four-wicket hauls in England.

One of the reasons for such a contrasting record for Siraj in home and away Tests is the spin-friendly tracks in India which don’t offer much support to pace bowling whereas away pitches have a good amount of pace, bounce, and lateral movement which helps fast bowlers to get some wickets. India is known for the rank-turners which help the spinners massively and that is why Mohammed Siraj has played only seven Test matches in India.

India has not lost a Test series at home since 2012 when they were last defeated by England. The hosts have won 16 consecutive Test series since the defeat in 2012 and now are aiming to continue their unbeaten run by defeating England in the ongoing Test series.

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