India pacer Mohammed Siraj called the Sydney pitch a batting beauty but said the turn it is offering to spinners has given his side a lot of hope moving forward after Australia claimed Day One honours in the third Test here
Mohd Siraj celebrates the wicket of Australia’s David Warner yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
India pacer Mohammed Siraj called the Sydney pitch a batting beauty but said the turn it is offering to spinners has given his side a lot of hope moving forward after Australia claimed Day One honours in the third Test here.
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Australia were nicely placed at 166-2 at stumps with Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looking in fine touch. This was after debutant opener Will Pucovski struck 62 to give Australia a strong platform after a four-hour rain disruption.
“It is a very flat wicket. Our plan was to build pressure and not try too much on a very easy wicket for batsmen. Even the bouncers are not carrying as well as they were in earlier games,” said Siraj, who made his debut in the previous game.
“But Test cricket it is all about patience and we must keep that in mind,” The odd short balls from the fast bowlers did not trouble the home batsmen on the opening day.
Trusting the trueness of the pitch, the likes of Smith and Labuschagne were not afraid to even step out against the spinners. But the turn late in the day has given India encouragement for Friday.
“It is because of the easy nature of the surface that their batsmen stepped out but when they saw the ball turning sharply late in the day, they went back to the crease,” Siraj observed. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow. The plan is to bowl in one tight channel and build pressure.”
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