Not Jasprit Bumrah. Tim Southee picked Siraj as India’s key man in the New Zealand Tests
Former New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee believes Mohammed Siraj could pose a bigger threat to the Black Caps than Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the two-match Test series against India. Southee pointed out that New Zealand have handled Bumrah effectively in Test cricket and know how to deal with him.
Bumrah has taken just nine wickets in five Tests against New Zealand, with a strike rate of 92.8, significantly higher than his career strike rate of 42.80. India also lost all five Tests against New Zealand in which Bumrah featured.
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“I think New Zealand have played incredibly well with Bumrah in Test cricket. I don’t think Bumrah has played in an Indian team that beat New Zealand. So I think New Zealand have played exceptionally well with him in Tests,” Southee said during a virtual interaction on Sony Sports Network on Thursday.
SIRAJ COULD BE A HANDFUL
Southee believes Siraj could trouble the New Zealand batting if given the right lengths in home conditions. Since his Test debut during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Siraj has taken 144 wickets in 48 matches.
“I’m a big fan of Mohammed Siraj and the way he bowls. If he can get to his length in New Zealand, he could be a handful,” Southee said.
“The energy he brings, the way he runs all day, the type of bowler he is, there’s no reason why he can’t be a big success in New Zealand conditions. There’s a lot about him in particular,” Southee added.
India’s two-match Test series against New Zealand is scheduled to begin on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, with the second Test set to be played in Christchurch from November 27.
India will be looking to bounce back after their previous Test tour of New Zealand in February 2020, ended the series with a 2-0 defeat. The hosts won the first Test in Wellington by 10 wickets before securing a seven-wicket victory in Christchurch.
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