Simon Katich criticizes Pacer for brain-faking against Travis Head and considers Mohammed Siraj stupid


Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich didn’t hold back in his criticism of Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj during the second day of the third Test match in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. Commentating for Channel 7, Katich took aim at Siraj’s approach, calling it “dumb” after the pacer’s repeated mistakes in executing his plans against Australian batter Travis Head. Despite a set field, Siraj continued to bowl short deliveries at Head, despite not having a deep third man in place to cover any potential cuts. This tactical error resulted in Head taking advantage of the situation, hitting Siraj for several boundaries by cutting the ball behind point.

Katich’s frustration was evident as he pointed out how Siraj failed to bowl according to the field set for Head. “That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj. Because the over before he had a man right in that spot, and he’s run in and bowled what they were planning without the fielder there. That is dumb. Dumb cricket,” he remarked. Katich’s critique highlighted the poor execution, as India had positioned fielders on the leg side, a deep point, and a man in the short third man position for the short ball plan. However, when the fielder was moved, Siraj failed to adapt and kept bowling into Head’s cut area, allowing him to rack up runs.

Travis Head and Steve Smith dominated the day with stellar centuries, frustrating India’s bowling attack. By the close of play on Day 2, Australia had reached 405/7 in 101 overs, thanks to an aggressive run rate and a solid partnership between the two Australian batsmen. While Siraj did pick up the wicket of Australian captain Pat Cummins late in the day, it was a relatively minor consolation for a performance that had already been marred by expensive spells. Siraj conceded 97 runs from his 22.2 overs, with a high economy rate of 4.30 runs per over, making him one of the least effective bowlers on the day, trailing only behind Nitish Kumar Reddy (5 RPO) and Ravindra Jadeja (4.8 RPO).

The criticism of Siraj adds to the already intense atmosphere of the Border-Gavaskar series, where tensions have been running high between the two teams. This was not the first instance of friction between Siraj and an Australian player. In the pink-ball Test match in Adelaide, Siraj and Head were involved in a fiery exchange after Siraj dismissed Head, who was on a blistering 140 off 141 balls. Siraj’s animated celebration of the wicket seemed to provoke Head, and the two engaged in a heated verbal exchange. The on-field umpires were forced to intervene, and the situation escalated to such a degree that both Siraj and Head were handed hefty fines by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their unsporting conduct. The Adelaide crowd’s jeering of Siraj seemed to only fuel his aggression, and it became clear that the rivalry between the two players was intensifying. The hostility in the series seemed to have spilled over into the Brisbane Test, where Siraj's performance and interactions with Head continued to make headlines.

Despite the criticism, Siraj’s performance has been inconsistent throughout the series. His ability to bowl at high pace and extract bounce from the wicket has made him a key figure for India, but his poor execution and failure to adapt in the Brisbane Test match have raised questions about his strategy. While Siraj is known for his fiery attitude and aggressive nature, this series has seen him struggle to maintain control in the face of mounting pressure from the Australian batters. His on-field communication with his fielders and bowlers has also come under scrutiny, with commentators like Katich questioning his decision-making and tactical discipline.

Siraj’s performance in this series will be crucial for India as they aim to bounce back from their challenging position in the third Test. His ability to adapt to conditions and execute plans more effectively will be vital in containing Australia’s top-order, including Head and Smith, both of whom have been in excellent form. With tensions between Siraj and Head continuing to simmer, their rivalry will only add to the drama of the ongoing series, with both players likely to engage in more fiery exchanges as the matches unfold.

For India, the stakes are high, as they will be looking to capitalize on Siraj’s experience and potential as a match-winner. But as seen in this Test, his failure to bowl in the right areas at the right times may jeopardize India’s chances of making significant inroads into Australia’s batting lineup. Siraj, along with the rest of the Indian bowling attack, will need to regroup and reassess their strategies to try and force a result in this Test. Meanwhile, Australia’s batsmen, particularly Head, will be eager to continue exploiting Siraj’s weaknesses, knowing that their fortunes in the series could depend on further success against the Indian pacer.


 

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