NEW DELHI: Pacer Mohammed Siraj, who stood out for India in the first innings, grabbing a four-for on Thursday admitted bowlers could have bowled better lines against Australia in the ongoing World Test Championship final at the Oval in London.
Riding on Travis Head and Steve Smith’s centuries, Australia raked up an imposing 469 all out in the first innings.While Head fired a dazzling 163, Smith hit a sublime 121 as the duo added 285 for the fourth wicket.
Siraj said that after Head’s counterattacking knock on the opening day, the team’s plan was to bowl bouncers irrespective of the outcome. The Indians’ tactics of not using the short ball against Head was questioned on day one, forcing them to change their plans the following day. Siraj eventually got rid of him with a short ball on the leg side.”There was sticky bounce yesterday morning and seam movement. Thereafter, there was not enough swing from the six metre length and batters were having it easy. Head batted extraordinarily as well. We could have bowled with better lines,” said Siraj.
Siraj felt they got the required luck with the short ball on day two.
“We decided to bowl bouncer only to Head and if he get hit from there then so be it. We stuck to it and got success. We built pressure did not give too many runs that also helped. We used bouncers yesterday as well but the chances went in the gap.
“There were four-five chances off my bowling only. If we did not bowl well, Australia would have crossed 500,” he said.
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Riding on Travis Head and Steve Smith’s centuries, Australia raked up an imposing 469 all out in the first innings.While Head fired a dazzling 163, Smith hit a sublime 121 as the duo added 285 for the fourth wicket.
Siraj said that after Head’s counterattacking knock on the opening day, the team’s plan was to bowl bouncers irrespective of the outcome. The Indians’ tactics of not using the short ball against Head was questioned on day one, forcing them to change their plans the following day. Siraj eventually got rid of him with a short ball on the leg side.”There was sticky bounce yesterday morning and seam movement. Thereafter, there was not enough swing from the six metre length and batters were having it easy. Head batted extraordinarily as well. We could have bowled with better lines,” said Siraj.
Siraj felt they got the required luck with the short ball on day two.
“We decided to bowl bouncer only to Head and if he get hit from there then so be it. We stuck to it and got success. We built pressure did not give too many runs that also helped. We used bouncers yesterday as well but the chances went in the gap.
“There were four-five chances off my bowling only. If we did not bowl well, Australia would have crossed 500,” he said.
Siraj added that the wicket had more pace and uneven bounce on day two.
“There is more pace in the wicket and there is uneven bounce. We also bowled well but the way Head batted he forced us to push our lengths back.”
On throwing the ball back to Steve Smith after the Australia completed his hundred in the first over of the day, he added: “It was nothing. I was just enjoying. It is important to do that as it is a long day,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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