IND vs ENG: 'You Forget What He Did In Australia': Brad Hogg Defends Indian Pacer After Edgbaston Rout

The Indian cricket team had a wild ride during the delayed fifth Test against England. After scoring a significant total of 416 in the first innings, they made a solid start by holding their opponents to 284 before things took a drastic turn. 

India was knocked out for 245 in the second innings, giving England a winning goal of 378. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root then contributed impressive hundreds as the Ben Stokes-led team defeated India by seven wickets to tie the five-match series at 2-2. 

Mohammed Siraj, who really had a mediocre performance, was one of those who received criticism for the subpar display. The pacer had four wickets in the first innings but had 15 wicketless overs and had given up 98 runs in the second. 

Brad Hogg Defends Indian Pacer Mohammed Siraj

Brad Hogg, a former Australia spinner, is pleased that India is rotating its players effectively and providing up-and-coming youngsters like Siraj and others enough opportunity in spite of established stars.

However, he backed the 27-year-old, saying that despite his own lack of experience playing international cricket, people are quick to overlook how successfully he led an India assault in Australia. 

“This is a great thing, you are giving opportunities to the likes of Siraj. He got belted over there in that Test match against England but at the end of the day, they are good lessons to be that. Bit like me coming here in 1996 and going, I’ve got to learn a lot more,” Hogg was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. 

He continued, “When you say bad things about him because he didn’t have a good match there, you forget what he did over in Australia when he led that attack when India were depleted.

He won the series for you by carrying that attack over there. So he has got a good mindset, courage, wants to be in the contest. Every now and then he is going to have a bad tournament and that is a lesson for him.” 

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