ENG vs IND: Either Mohammed Siraj is carrying a niggle or he is tired, says VVS Laxman

India is playing against England at The Oval in the fourth Test of the series and former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman made an observation in the bowling department of the visitors. Laxman added that pacer Mohammed Siraj is either carrying a niggle or is extremely tired as he could only bowl just five over before the end of the first session during day two of the fourth Test.

However, Siraj just hit in the right areas after coming in the second session of the game as he sent back well-settled Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow’s wicket was crucial as he was building a sturdy partnership with Ollie Pope to put England in a safe spot. Laxman added that while Siraj was quite slow with the ball, Shardul Thakur remained ineffective.

“Shardul Thakur doesn’t look penetrative and, somewhere down the line, I feel (Mohammed) Siraj is carrying a niggle. Not very often you see him bowling below 130. Either that, or he is tired. That’s why the bulk of the bowling is being done by Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Umesh Yadav. Kohli will have to find a way to utilize Siraj,” said Laxman in talk with ESPNcricinfo.

Mohammed Siraj was charging in at Nottingham and Lord’s: Laxman

Laxman stated that Siraj looked at his usual best at Trent Bridge, The Lord’s, and Leeds. In fact, at Lord’s, he picked four wickets during the final day to give India a massive victory. Laxman felt that since the pacer has already given his very best in the first three games, he looks kind of drained. However, at The Oval, it seems he is carrying a niggle right since the start, reckoned Laxman.

“It was evident even in the way he bowled at Headingley. He was charging in at Nottingham and Lord’s. When he bowled on the last day at Lord’s, when he got those four wickets, he had a lot of energy and intensity. It was missing when he bowled the third or fourth spell at Headingley. Right from the first ball he bowled yesterday, it looked like he was carrying a niggle,” Laxman added.