Australian opener David Warner praise his IPL teammate T Natarajan for his impressive performance in the Australia Test tour. SRH retained T Natarajan in IPL 2020 for a whopping Rs. 4 crores.
David Warner praises T Natarajan
Natarajan became the first Indian cricketer to make his debut in all three formats – T20I, ODI, and Test – on the same tour.
The left-arm seamer who was drafted into the India T20I side for the Australia series after an injury ruled out another uncapped cricketer Varun Chakravarthy, played all three matches before being asked by the team management to stay back as a net bowler for ODIs and Tests.
As it turned out, Natarajan played an ODI and then went on to make his Test debut in the final Test in Brisbane after a string of injuries ruled out India’s first-XI players.
“First thing I’d like to say is Vazhthukal Nattu, you’re an absolute legend. I’ve got so much time for you, you’re a great person on and off the field and I love having you in our team. Cheers!” Warner said on Sports Today.
Natarajan’s brilliant performance for the Sunirsers in the IPL earned him his maiden call-up for the Indian side. Warner, who was instrumental in treating Natarajan as one of SRH’s main weapons, said he was fortunate to lead the youngster.
“I was fortunate enough to captain Nattu. He’s an amazing guy, humble and a true gentleman. What a talent he is, we’ve just seen a guy who played unbelievably well in the IPL 2020, going on tour with the Indian team as a net bowler while sacrificing being there for the birth of his first child and then making his debut in all forms… what a magnificent achievement.
“I couldn’t be any happier and pleased for him. I’m very pleased and excited to see what he has to offer in this year’s IPL as well. He knows what he has to do, he knows how to bowl in certain situations.”
“The way we used him – outside the powerplay, maybe an over in the powerplay and bowling alongside Rashid Khan in partnership worked very well. I think he bowled 80 yorkers in the tournament which is an exceptional display of death bowling whenever he did come on. I’m extremely excited to see what he brings to the table this year,” Warner said.
Natarajan’s homecoming celebration
Natarajan got a grand reception in his village after returning from the Australia tour.
“We saw first-hand yesterday the response that his home town gave him, it was extremely humbling to see. You had a guy there getting a thorough warm welcome for him and for what he’s achieved,” Warner said.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) secretary RS Ramasaamy on Friday has announced that the first two Test matches of the four-match series between India and England will be played behind closed doors at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
India vs England to play Behind Closed Door
“Yes…crowd will not be allowed for the two-Test matches as a preventive measure in view of the virus situation,” he told PTI.
Also, a circular dated January 20 has been sent out to TNCA members saying that the decision to play the matches behind closed doors was taken along with the BCCI.
“In view of the prevailing COVID pandemic, the BCCI has decided not to take any kind of risk with the safety of the players during the forthcoming India-England Test series,” the circular read.
“As per the BCCI directive, the first two Test matches between February 5 and February 17 being held at M A Chidambaram stadium will take place behind closed doors (No Spectators/Guests/Sub-Committee Members) as a preventive measure,” it added.
Both the team will reach Chennai by January 27 as the players will undergo the COVID-19 tests before entering the bio-secure bubble created by BCCI.
It must be noted that the Indian government had recently announced that outdoor sporting events could be conducted with 50 percent of spectators after following the standard operating procedures.
The first Test is scheduled from February 5.
India have announced the squad for the first two Tests of the series as some of the key players who missed the Australia Test series returned to the 16-member team including Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Ishant Sharma.
India bowling coach Bharat Arun heaps praise on Ravindra Jadeja for his unbeaten all-rounder performance in Australia tour.
With his impressive performance, Jadeja makes a crucial inning with both bat and ball in all three formats played in Australia. That too in the 3rd Test Jadeja’s run-out dismissal of Steve Smith considered as one of the finest dismissals in 2020.
Bharat Arun Praises Jadeja
Jadeja, who did not feature in the first Test against Australia because of an injury, came back into the side for the second Test in Melbourne and immediately left his mark in all three departments of the game.
“The way he is batting, Jadeja is today the most complete all-rounder we have and it is an exceptional sign for India,” Arun said in a virtual press conference on Friday.
Jadeja
Jadeja scored an important 57 with the bat and stitched a partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane to set up the foundation for India’s win in Melbourne. In the third Test in Sydney, he picked four wickets in the first innings and scored 28 with the bat before being hit on the thumb by a bouncer, which ruled him out of the final Test.
“Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have been magnificent. They are number one spinners in the world plus Jadeja’s rise as an all-rounder is a huge bonus for the country. The way he is batting, Jadeja is today the most complete all-rounder we have and it is an exceptional sign for India,” Arun said in a virtual press conference on Friday.
Jadeja Ruled out of England Series
Jadeja is not a part of the Indian side for the first two Tests in the upcoming four-match series against England starting February 5 but various reports are suggesting that Jadeja might be ruled out of the entire series because of the fractured thumb.
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj on Friday posted a video of a luxury car(BMW) on his Instagram handle. The BMW car can be seen with a temporary registration plate indicating that it is brand new. Siraj also posted a video of him driving the car in Hyderabad.
The 26-year-old pacer was one of the standout performers for India as the team recorded a second consecutive 2-1 Test series win over Australia Down Under, the earlier being on the 2018-19 tour.
Making his debut in the second Test after Mohammed Shami was injured, Siraj was fast-tracked and became India’s lead pacer in the fourth and final Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, after Jasprit Bumrah also got injured.
Ravi Shastri Praises Siraj
Siraj ended up taking a five-wicket-haul in the match and was India’s highest wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets. His contribution helped India become the first team in 32 years to beat Australia in a Test in Brisbane.
“Find of the tour for shoring up the bowling attack the way he did — Mohd Siraj. He fought through personal loss, racial remarks and channelised them to find home in the team huddle,” said head coach Ravi Shastri said in a tweet about Siraj on Friday.
Watch Siraj Driving his BMW car
Siraj refused to fly back to India
Earlier, Siraj’s father Mohammed Ghaus had passed away before the Test series began. Offered the chance to fly home, Siraj declined and chose to stay back in the bio-bubble. Now as the Indian cricket team has finally arrived home, one of the first things the 26-year old pacer did was visit the grave of his late father and pay his respect with a prayer.
Speaking on his decision to stay back during the series, Siraj revealed that it wasn’t an easy thing to stay back but he felt strong after talking to his mother.
“It was a tough situation, dad’s demise. I got strength after talking to mom and my focus was to realise dad’s dream. I got mentally strong with their support and felt that whatever was dad’s desire, I have to fulfill that. It got fulfilled,” Siraj had said.
Siraj also remembered his late father during the Sydney Test. Before the match began and as the national anthems were blaring out, the cameras picked up images of a teary-eyed Siraj as he sang the anthem.
Bishan Singh Bedi suggest Virat Kohli to focus on batting
India spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi suggests Virat Kohli to step down from captaincy. After the Virat Kohli less India’s marvelous victory over Australia many suggest Kohli to step down from Test captaincy.
Bishan Singh Bedi Advices Kohli to step down from Captaincy
“I hope I’m not giving the impression of bending my back to build a case for Rahane to take over as Test captain,” Bedi wrote in his column for The IE. “If anything my sincere aim is to prolong Virat Kohli’s batting career for the country.
India beat Australia in Gabba and lifts the series trophy
Shared responsibilities in cricket are different from corporate/political fields whence individuals are almost vying for cut-throat glory. In sports, especially cricket, captains can be seen swimming or sinking with the teams they lead.”
Bedi further suggests that India can have three different captains across formats with Rahane leading in Tests while Kohli and Rohit sharing the responsibility in limited-overs cricket.
Bedi needs Kohli to focus on his batting
“Another ticklish thought pops up in my mind: Does India need Virat Kohli the great batsman or Virat Kohli a mediocre captain in the long run? Providence has provided us with an instant option. Rahane can lead in Tests while Kohli and Rohit Sharma can share the duties in white-ball cricket,” he said.
Virat Kohli
“Maybe Kohli can offer to make an honourable way for Rahane to take over during the series against England at home. I can assure no bad blood would be caused when we ensure that the larger picture on the canvas is Indian cricket,” he added.
Bedi, who took 266 wickets in 67 Tests, praised Rahane’s captaincy while drawing comparisons with the legendary India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
“Personally, I am floored with the way Rahane conjured magic from broken bodies around him,” Bedi wrote.
“The way he handled his meagre resources reminds me of Tiger Pataudi, who throughout his captaincy tenure was woefully short of a well-rounded unit but his leadership alone gave Indian cricket fresh legs. It was Pataudi who defined an “Indianness” in our cricket. He infused in us a thrilling sense of being together in this ride.
“The hallmark of any captain is his ability to handle the bowling resources. This is where yours truly has become an absolute “mureed” of Rahane. Three Tests is good enough time to assess a captain’s bowling changes and fielding placements. I tried hard but I couldn’t find a single Rahane move which could be questioned by armchair critics like me,” he added.
Fielding coach R Sridhar has opened up about how Ravi Shastri pep talks that paved the way for the Virat Kohli-less side to bounce back after the infamous 36 all-out defeat at the hands of the mighty Aussies in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The long-serving fielding coach has revealed what Shastri told the crestfallen side after they were bundled out for 36 – their lowest-ever innings total in the longest format.
Sridhar Recalls the moments of Ravi Shastri
In a youtube show conducted by R Ashwin, India’s fielding coach explains how Ravi Shastri bundled up team India together after the 1st Test loss.
India lost the Test match in a humiliating manner and with a barrage of criticism that came their way in its immediate aftermath, the side could have easily fallen away.
But this is where the man-management skills of Ravi Shastri came to the fore. According to R Sridhar, a day after the shambolic defeat, Shastri gatherer the entire team and urged them to wear 36 like a badge of honor.
“After 36 all-out, you didn’t know what’s next. Then Ravi (Shastri) bhai gathered the team and said: ‘Wear this 36 like a badge on your sleeves and you will be a great team’,” Sridhar told news agency PTI.
Watch the full episode of Ashwin and Sridhar’s chat
Episode 1
Sridhar also revealed that departing skipper Kohli provided some ‘lovely suggestions’ for the 2nd Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The Rahane-led unit turned the tables on Australia, a week later when they routed the hosts by eight wickets in the Boxing Day Test to level the rubber 1-1.
The tourists then proceeded to pull out a draw for the ages in Sydney to ensure that we went into the final Test with the series locked at 1-1.
Episode 2
Then in Brisbane, the ultimate miracle happened as a heavily depleted Team India shocked the Aussies to not only chase down a record fourth-innings total of 328 at the venue but also breach the fortress after a period of 33 years to clinch their second consecutive Test series win Down Under.
India's fielding coach Sridhar recalls the moment of having a 12:30 AM meeting with Virat Kohli
India’s fielding coach R Sridhar recalled the moment when the Indian coach unit have a midnight meeting with Skipper Virat Kohli after the 36 run all out in 1st Test at Adelaide. In a youtube show hosted by R Ashwin, R Sridhar recalls the mindset of the coaches brfore the preparation of 2nd Test vs Austraia.
Conversation between Ashwin and R Sridhar
R Ashwin
Virat just came to all of us and said ‘Boys, I’m returning home.’ It was like a chat that happens at a college farewell. I thought in my mind ‘Bro, don’t go, we’ve just been bowled out for 36, we need you.’ (Laughs). What were your thoughts?
R Sridhar
It was midnight, around 12.30am, the night we lost the Adelaide Test.
Virat Kohli messaged me: ‘What are you doing?’ I was shocked.
I thought ‘why is he messaging at this time?’ and told him ‘head coach [Ravi Shastri], myself, Bharat Arun and Vikram Rathour are sitting together’.
He said, ‘I’ll also join you’. I said, ‘no problem, come over.’ He came there and all of us started discussing.
That’s where ‘Mission Melbourne’ began. Shastri made a point there: ‘This 36, wear it like a badge! This 36 is what will make this team great’.
Mission Melbourne
We were slightly confused but then we started talking about the decisions we’d have to take. Then Virat called Ajinkya the next morning and we [coaching staff] had a very good discussion.
After a 36 all-out, usually teams would strengthen their batting. But Ravi Shastri, Virat and Ajinkya decided to strengthen the bowling. That’s how we replaced Virat with Ravindra Jadeja, and it was a masterstroke.
Shastri wanted to have more left-handers. He felt because of the presence of only right-handers, the Australians kept bowling at that one spot, so if we bring in a left-hander, their lines may vary, and it may work for us tactically. So, most of the decisions were taken there and it was decided that we’ll go in with five of our best bowlers.
India comeback with strong and win the Border Gavaskar Test series with 1-2.
Baroda cricketer Deepak Hooda has been suspended from the remaining ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The announcement after Hiooda misbehaved with Baroda skipper Krunal Pandya during the net session.
Deepak Hooda Suspended from Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
“The apex council decided that Hooda won’t be considered to represent the Baroda team for the current domestic season. The decision was taken after considering reports from team manager and coach about the incident as well as communication with Hooda,” said Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman, BCA press and publicity committee.
According to TOI, Deepak Hooda has been suspended by Baroda Cricket Association due to indiscipline.
Hooda won’t be able to participate in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament as well any upcoming domestic competition in the season. “Hooda can again play for Baroda for the 2021-22 season,” Gaekwad told TOI.
BCA joint secretary, Parag Patel said, “Hooda did the wrong thing by walking out of the team without discussing his issues with the management. But banning him for the entire season was unnecessary. He could have been reprimanded for his act and then allowed to play.”
Hooda’s Reply
Hooda, who has played 46 first-class and 123 T20s for Baroda had claimed that Pandya stopped him from practicing ‘showing his Dadagiri’.
“Today I was practicing in nets and doing my preparation for tomorrow’s game with the permission of Head Coach Mr. Prabhkar. Then Krunal came in nets started misbehaving with me. I told him that I’m doing my preparation with the permission of the head coach.
He told me that ‘I’m the captain, who is the head coach? I am the overall of the Baroda team. Then he stopped my practice showing his Dadagiri,” Hooda had alleged in a letter to BCA.
However, BCA chief executive officer Shishir Hattangadi told Cricinfo that he spoke to Pandya as well as Baroda head coach Prabhakar Bairgond and team manager Dharmendra Arothe and found the 25-year-old exaggerating the incident.
As per Hattangadi, Pandya had only ‘insisted’ the players, including Hooda, to do fielding drills, and Hooda instead carried on with his batting drills. An argument ensued as Pandya “exercised his authority” to maintain “decorum” of the team environment, as per Hattangadi.
Stating Hooda’s outburst as unwarranted, the former Mumbai first-class player informed in the e-mail that he has spoken to Hooda’s IPL franchise – Kings XI Punjab – and will be writing to BCCI of his misconduct.
BCCI launches a new running test for BCCI contracted players
BCCI includes a new test for the BCCI contracted players apart from the YO-YO test. Owing to the “growing physical demands of international cricket”, the Indian cricket board has introduced mandatory 2-km time trials to measure speed and endurance levels in its training program for top players.
New Test for BCCI contracted players
It will now be mandatory for the BCCI’s contracted players and those vying for a place in the Indian team to clear this trial, apart from the yo-yo test, to be picked in the squad.
“The Board felt that the current fitness standard played a huge role in getting our fitness to the next level. It is important to take our fitness level to another level now. The time trial exercise will help us to compete even better. The Board will keep updating the standards every year,” a BCCI official told.
According to the new norm, the benchmark for fast bowlers is 8 minutes and 15 seconds. For batsmen, wicket-keepers, and spinners, the standard will be 8 minutes and 30 seconds. The minimum yo-yo level for all remains at 17.1.
To place the new norm in perspective, elite athletes are expected to complete 2 km in around 6 minutes, and amateurs in 15 minutes.
The contracted players were informed about the new mark, which has been approved by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, in Australia. They were told that the Board has created three windows to carry out the test this year: February, June, and August/September.
For now, the Board has made an exemption for those who were part of the Test series in Australia. However, those who are in contention for the white-ball series against England will have to undergo this test. It will also be a key criterion in selection for the T20 World Cup, which will be held later this year.
The test — the criteria will be updated later — will be held in the presence of a strength and conditioning member from the BCCI or National Cricket Academy.
Former India team trainer Ramji Srinivasan says a time trial is better than the yo-yo and “most effective” test. “It is more functional towards cricket. This will test speed, threshold zones, how you plan your running pace. And you can’t cheat as this is time-based,” he said.
BCCI’s YO-YO Test
The BCCI had introduced the yo-yo test a few years ago, and it became a key parameter for selection to the national team. Players like Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, and Sanju Samson had failed the test before, which resulted in them being excluded from the squad.
In the yo-yo test, two cones are placed 20 metres apart, and the athlete has to run between them when the beep goes off. The beeps become more frequent after one minute, and if the athlete fails to reach the line within that time, he is expected to catch up within two more beeps. The test is stopped if the player fails to catch up before the beeps run out.
Hanuma Vihari, the man behind the 3rd test draw gave an interview after reaching his home with the trophy. Vihari and Ashwin played a crucial role in the 3rd Test match which results in a draw.
The 3rd Test draw turns to be an important event for India to lift the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Interview with Hanuma Vihari
How was it like watching your teammates pull off an improbable win at Gabba on television?
It’s surreal, actually. Hard to put it in words. It’s the greatest series win for India, because of the circumstances. Playing against a quality team, the injuries, and bouncing back from 36/9 in Adelaide.
Did you miss being part of the celebrations in Brisbane?
Yes. It would have been nice if I was part of the team when they undertook that victory lap at the Gabba. But then, I got injured and couldn’t do much about it. But certain things are not in my control.
What’s the status of the hamstring injury?
During the interview with Hanuma Vihari, he answered the question regarding his hamstring injury. I arrived at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru yesterday and will be meeting the doctor tomorrow. Only then will I get a clear picture of my injury.
What was said in the dressing-room after the Adelaide debacle?
Nothing much, actually. I don’t think we even had a meeting after the game. We had a team-activity dinner later than evening, and that’s about it. I think the team management took a conscious call to not mention 36/9. The good thing was that we really bonded well and that helped us take our mind off cricket for a couple of days. In the lead-up to the Melbourne Test, Ravi bhai (Ravi Shastri), our head coach, told us that what happened in Adelaide was a one-off thing, and it would never happen again on the cricket field. ‘Let’s forget about it and treat this as a three-match series’. Before his departure, Virat Kohli just asked us to believe in ourselves and in our game. Looking back, that loss in Adelaide was a blessing as it brought us closer as a team.
Could you talk a bit about Day 5, Sydney?
Going into Sydney on Day 5, nobody really gave us a chance. We needed to chase in excess of 400, and there were only two possibilities: a draw or an Australia win. But the way Pujji (Cheteshwar Pujara) and Rishabh (Pant) were batting, it gave us hope. But they got dismissed in quick succession, and then I got injured, Jadeja was not fit to bat and Ashwin also had a dodgy back. It changed the equation and we had only one option left, which was to stone-wall our way to a draw. Both Ashwin and I wanted to draw the game badly because the series was locked 1-1, and if either one of us was dismissed, it would have exposed our lower order. We knew we had to bat for three hours.
What was the rationale of promoting Pant ahead of you on Day 5 in Sydney?
We were really not thinking of a win, to be honest. In Test cricket, you can’t really predict whether you can press for the target. Instead, you have to take it session by session. The move to promote Pant at No.5, ahead of me, was to have a right and left-hand combination going, and upset the rhythm of the Australian bowlers. But if Rishabh gets going, we knew that we have a good chance.
What did you tell Pujara when you pulled a hamstring?
It affected my mobility. The physio (Nitin Patel) came out. Under the normal circumstances, I would have walked off to the pavilion retired hurt. But that would have exposed the rest of our batsmen. Ravichandran Ashwin had a dodgy back and Ravindra Jadeja was not fit to bat. So that was not an option. Pujji told me, ‘lets hang around for a bit. The tea interval is just 20 minutes away, and then we will take it from there.’ Unfortunately, he got out in the next over.
Hanuma Vihari receives treatment to a leg injury during play on the final day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Jan. 11, 2021. (AP/PTI)
What was the plan when Ashwin joined?
When Ash (Ashwin) joined me at the crease, the only thing we talked about was to survive the next three hours. Initially, we didn’t have any plan in particular. But Ashwin was playing Nathan Lyon really comfortably, and I couldn’t stretch forward to play him because my hamstring was hurting. So, we decided that Ashwin would play out Lyon, while I would face the fast bowlers because I didn’t have to come forward to them as they (Australian pacers) were banging it short of a length.
You survived a reprieve when Tim Paine dropped you off Mitchell Starc’s bowling?
It was a momentary lapse in concentration. After dead-batting for so many overs, fatigue had crept in. I remember, we still had another 8 overs, and none of us could really afford to throw away our wickets. At the other end, Ashwin began to get animated. We had realised that we were getting really close to achieving something special. He began to chat from the non-striker’s end in Tamil. “Pathu pathu ball ah aadalaam” (Let’s take it 10 balls at a time).
For the better part of the innings, you refused to take singles. However, towards the end, you guys went for a double. What happened there?
It was not planned, actually. More than anything, it was just an act of impulse. Ash called me for a single, but then we realised that there was a double there and we went for it, even though I was hobbling.
After the tea interval, Paine began sledging Ashwin? Did he or any of the other Australians sledge you as well?
No. I don’t really remember them saying anything to me. Paine got into a bit of a banter with Ashwin. After the tea interval, Australians thought that they could just roll us over. They thought it was just a matter of one wicket, and our three fast bowlers would get exposed. They began to get frustrated and I guess the sledging stemmed from their frustrations.
Not out batsman Ravichandran Ashwin, right, and Hanuma Vihari walk from the field following play on the final day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
What was your reaction when the match ended in a draw?
I didn’t feel anything to be honest. Both of us were really exhausted and had even gone numb after stonewalling for so long. Later than evening when Ravi bhai singled me out and said: “Hats off to the resilience and grit that you showed,’ and Rahane also said that my innings in Sydney was much better than my century in West Indies. That’s when the enormity of the situation sunk in.
Was that the toughest spell of cricket that you’ve played in your career so far?
Absolutely. If I have to sum up my career in a nutshell, Day 5 in Sydney would be the perfect example. That’s what defines me. It’s been all about this grit and determination from my family who helped me reach where I am today.
Looking back, how important was that draw in Sydney in the context of this series?
It was a tremendous result. The draw in Sydney was the genesis of the Brisbane win. Sydney instilled confidence and belief in us. It spurred us to remain positive and press for a win on Day 5 at the Gabba. If we had lost in Sydney, the momentum would have shifted, and we would have lost in Brisbane as well.
How was the reaction amongst fans in Australia after your splendid rearguard in Sydney?
I remember when I was waiting at the Brisbane airport to catch the flight back to India, some Indian fans came up and shook hands with me. They also congratulated me for my performance in Sydney. It felt nice to be recognised by fans in Australia.
You failed to get going in Australia despite being in reasonably good nick in the run-up to the Test series. What happened?
You’re correct. I was in good batting form and had even scored a century in a warm-up game. I guess it just boiled down to my faulty shot selection. It had nothing to do with my technique. I just made the wrong choices at the wrong time. However, I think I have made up for it with that innings on Day 5 in Sydney.
There were some who were critical of your batting approach in Sydney. I am referring to a tweet from Babul Supriyo, the BJP MP from Asansol.
Everyone loves and has an opinion about cricket. That’s fine. But it shouldn’t get personal. But I don’t mind such comments and don’t take it to heart. I generally don’t respond to them. I decided to reply to that tweet (Babul Supriyo) because I wanted him to get my name correct.
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj went to his father’s graveyard first thing after landing in Hyderabad, his home town, as he returned from India’s tour of Australia.
The 27-year-old fast bowler had lost his father days after arriving in Australia from the UAE. Siraj chose not to attend head home and stayed back with the team to fulfill his father’s dream.
He had called his mother right after the personal loss. She gave him the courage and confidence to stay back in Australia and do what her husband always wanted Siraj to do — play for India and make a match-winning contribution.
Siraj made his Test debut in the second Test in Melbourne and finished the Border-Gavaskar series with 13 wickets – the most by any Indian bowler. He went on to pick up his maiden five-wicket haul and looked up to the skies and told his father who was blessing him from there that he had done it!
Mohammed Siraj visits his father’s graveyard
Siraj went from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad to the graveyard to pay tributes to his father.
India’s hero #Siraj paying homage at the grave of his father Mohd Ghouse who passed away when he was on tour outside the country; the son has returned after fulfilling the father’s much cherished dream to see his son play for the country & make it win @ndtv@ndtvindia#MohdSirajpic.twitter.com/X44GUc2WdX
Speaking to Sports Today Siraj said “I didn’t go home, directly. I went to the graveyard straight from the airport, I went there to sit with my dad for some time. I couldn’t speak to him but offered flowers to his grave,” Siraj said.
“And then I came home. When I met my mom, she started crying. Then I tried to console her, telling her not to cry. It was a different feeling. After 6-7 months, her son had come home. Mom was always waiting for me to return. She was counting down how many days were left for me to return.”
Siraj topped the wicket-takers’ charts for India in his maiden tour. With 13 wickets in 3 matches, Siraj went past Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin’s tally. The youngster played a crucial role in helping India breach Australia’s Gabba fortress with 6 wickets in the Test.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting accpets that Australia were not quite good enough to face the India in the Test series. India won the Australia series in 1-2 and brings the trophy back home without its keyplayer in the decider 4th test match.
Ricky Ponting praises Team India
“I’ ‘m quite shocked that Australia weren’t quite good enough to win this series. The cold hard facts of it are pretty much that was the India A team that played this Test match and (India) still won,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.
“Considering everything the Indian team has been through in the last five or six weeks, with the captain leaving, all the injuries they”ve had – they”ve been through 20 players – (Australia) have been at full-strength, bar Davey (Warner) missing early on, so it”s really hard to comprehend.
India beat Australia in Gabba and lifts the series trophy
“It”s probably not even (India”s) second-picked team because you think of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma and those guys who didn’t even make it out here. Rohit Sharma turns up for the last two Test matches only.”
India backfired at the key moment
Ponting said India won all the key moments throughout the series and that he’s been the difference between the two sides.
“They”ve played really good, tough, hard Test match cricket day-in and day-out. India have won all the big moments in every Test match and Australia have fallen short. That”s been the difference between the two teams.”
“They (India) have done it really well and they thoroughly deserve to win the series … because (of) how resilient they”ve been.”
The legendary batsman, who coached Delhi Capitals in the last IPL in the UAE, said all the setbacks India had to deal with showed the depth and the talent the country has.
“Washington Sundar looked like he had played 50 Test matches through the course of this game and never looked out of place,” Ponting said.
Washington Sundar
“Shardul Thakur was the same in his second Test match, picked up seven wickets and scored 60-odd handy runs in the first innings.
“I’ ‘ve been around the IPL a long time so I know the talent that they do have in India, but when you’ ‘ve got to step up on a big stage in a Test match against Australia it”s a different story.”
He said Australia should be concerned that a depleted Indian team was even good enough to beat them in their own backyard.
“We gave Australia the benefit of doubt the last time India were here because Warner and Steve Smith weren’t there. But this time, Australia”s at full strength and India are on the bones of their squad – they’re playing net bowlers in Test matches and they’re still winning. That”s the worry for Australia.
“We’re probably digging deeper than even an Indian A team and they”ve still been good enough to win two Test matches here in Australia, and good enough to win one in Brisbane, which just doesn’t happen,” Ponting said.
