Credit: BCCI
It’s rather interesting to think of the very fact that one of Mohammed Siraj's first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries, especially England, such a top-ranked all format team, has happened just a few hours ago in the ongoing contest between the two remarkable teams in the sport. Having been playing top tier test match cricket for his country now for over half a decade, Siraj, one would think, reserved his brilliance in terms of wicket taking in big ways to this ongoing tour to England whilst having already met the opponent on multiple occasions back home in India.
His brilliance against a firm batting line up never bereft of huge run-making with names in the form of Stokes, Root, and Duckett goes to show the right-arm fast medium bowler’s ability to come into his own. That said, let us delve into the list of Mohammed Siraj's first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries (with the exception of New Zealand as he’s yet to play a contest there).
List of Mohammed Siraj's first-ever five-wicket hauls in each of the SENA countries
6 for 70 vs England at Edgbaston
One of Mohammed Siraj's first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries came in England as seen recently where just prior to the match reviving partnership between Smith and Brook, it was India all the way in the ongoing contest.
Breaking the back of England’s first innings, where the hosts had been set a target to blitz past India’s mighty first inning score that nearly touched 600 runs, it was Siraj as the man in charge with the red-ball duties. A particularly demanding role especially in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who’s sitting out of the Edgbaston Test.
But whether on not India happen to win this contest in England, the second Test match will for times to come be remembered for a great spell of red-ball bowling by Siraj in which the irrepressible character of Indian cricket took for the first-time ever a fifer in England.
This great effort included a fine fest of 6 for 70, in which Siraj clinched the big three of the current English batting side, former captain Joe Root, current captain Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley before cleaning up the lower order. May more success come to him.
6 for 15 v South Africa at Newlands
One of the finest-ever bowling spells recorded by one of India’s most loveliest had talented right-arm pacers of all time for Siraj came thousands of miles away from the domestic comfort and traditional pitches of India.
In the month of January in 2024, playing his fourth Test match against the challenging Proteas team, Siraj emerged with a laudable bowling spell in the first of the two Test matches India played in South Africa.
In the second Test match at Newlands, one which India, the visitors happened to win by seven wickets, Siraj was instrumental in drubbing South Africa under the mess they created in the first innings, during a pitiable and rather unexpected score of 55. Yes, you read that right - 55 all out. Getting the big key wickets of Markram, Elgar, and Zorzi, such key contributors to the South African top order and after all, the wickets of Verreynne, Bedingham, and Jansen, it was literally speaking, Mohd. Siraj versus South Africa to which the hosts seem to have no answers.
In a great spell of memorable and truly impactful fast bowling, the passionate pacer claimed a memorable 6 for 15 off just nine overs and the effort resulted in one of Mohammed Siraj's first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries, this being in the often challenging South African territory.
5 for 73 vs Australia at the Gabba
In the year 2021, there appeared one of Mohammed Siraj’s first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries in the form of a glorious bowling spell against Australia that is still widely thought of when considering the natural game changing and destructive bowling talent of the right-arm pacer. Now, while taking a fifer especially in Test match cricket is something that’s quite normal or regular for the lack of better word and happens pretty much all the time, to take a five-wicket haul against someone like Australia is a bit of a challenge and when that happens, it fills one with a sense of accomplishment (or should one say gladness).
Back in 2021, when India had a credible and memorable tour to Australia, it was Mohammed Siraj who took at the famed Gabba Test the hugely significant wickets of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Mitch Starc, and Josh Hazelwood. And that spell of excellently controlled and diligently executed bowling birthed one of Mohammed Siraj's first five-wicket hauls in SENA countries.
This being a great spell of bowling against the mighty Aussies.
