"England's Bazball strategy won't work in India", feels speedster Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj believes England's much-hyped ‘Bazball' strategy won't work in Indian conditions and if the visitors go with their ultra-aggressive approach then the match may get over within two days.

Bazball, a hell-for-leather attacking batting approach, coined after Test team head coach Brendon McCullum, has given England tremendous success last year, but it will face its baptism by fire on sub-continental tracks, which offer turn and bounce in equal measure. "If England play Bazball in Indian conditions, the match might get over within a day-and-a-half or two. It's not easy to hit every time here as the ball turns sometimes and straightens on other occasions," Siraj told Jio Cinema on the eve of the opening Test beginning here on Thursday.

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"So, I think it'll be difficult to see Bazball here. But if they play it, it'll be good for us as the match may get over quickly." Talking about his preparations for the tour, Siraj said: "On their previous tour to India, the matches were getting over quickly. In that series [in 2021] I think I played two matches.

"In the first innings of one of these, I bowled five overs and took two wickets of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. So, the aim will be to control runs in how many ever overs I bowl. If I get wickets fine, but I'll have to stay patient and continue building pressure on the batsmen."

Siraj, 29, has taken 68 wickets in 23 Tests since making his debut a little over three years back in Australia. "I bowl with the new ball, so my line and length remain the same. I don't change things whether it's white ball or red ball," he added.

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