“I want to play this Test match, I want to win it for the team” - Morne Morkel reveals Mohammed Siraj’s words ahead of fifth Test vs England

Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel has heaped praise on the Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj for showing exceptional grit and leadership skills in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested for the fifth and final Test against England.

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Morkel, who attended the post-day press conference on Day 4, revealed Siraj’s words ahead of the fifth Test, revealing his willingness to play the series-deciding game and win it for the nation. Notably, Siraj is the leading wicket-taker of the five-match Test series with 20 scalps.

“Before the start of the Test, there were conversations with him just to check in on how he was feeling mentally and how he was feeling physically because of the amount of overs. But he was the first guy to say, ‘Listen, I want to play this Test match, I want to win it for the team’. So not just the bowling front, but it’s the attitude for me that is great, and you’ve got a guy with an attitude like that, he’s willing to run in all day, I’m not surprised, that’s why he’s got the numbers,” Morkel said at the post-day press conference.

Furthermore, Morkel asserted that he is happy to see Siraj getting enough recognition in the ongoing five-match Test series against England, adding that he is a natural leader, leading the pace attack with his actions. 

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“I said it earlier in the Test series, I’m very happy for Siraj that he’s getting the recognition. He’s a guy in that changing room who will lead the way, he’s a natural leader. Although vocally he doesn’t speak a lot, I think he leads a lot with his actions. In this series, he’s done it with the ball at times when we’ve needed somebody to put his hand up and create something. Even if it was bowling an extra two to three overs or creating an opportunity for us, he’s been that guy. He’s put in the effort, and it’s just nice to see the rewards and today again at the back end, stepping up, getting the support behind the team to lift us in the crucial moments, it’s those sort of smart plays that you need, and for me, Siraj has just been outstanding,” he added.

For the unversed, Siraj is the lone bowler in the five-match Test series between England and India to play all five Tests, bowling a whopping 181.2 overs, scalping 20 wickets at an average of 36.85.

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