Questions have been raised from the side’s point of view regarding the second-choice pacer, Mohammed Siraj, as India looks ahead to the second Test against New Zealand, scheduled to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune. Also, the side has expressed concern about his recent lack of wickets.
However, Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate believes it is just a dry period for the pacemaker, and nothing suggests that the quick bowler is out of rhythm at the moment, reflecting on his performance on the first hour of the final day of the first Test.
Siraj was excellent in the second innings. He said that hour of Test match cricket on the final morning was very, very good.
It may not be a nicking wicket, but his biggest strength, particularly to left-handers, is when he moves the ball across.
There is nothing there to say like he is not bowling well or his rhythm is not good,” he added.
Maybe he’s just going through a little bit of a wicket drought. But no concerns again,” he suggested.
What the Indian pacers should do in the second Test, reckons the Dutchman, is to play to conditions rather than following the traditional pace MO where they just look to take advantage of the new ball.
“I don’t think particularly to fast bowlers and when the ball is new, but playing a bit more to conditions is something we want to work on,” he said.
“That first innings was ridiculously tough with the ball seaming around. There will be other times when fast bowling is the right option to go after it,” he added.
