Nasser Hussain says Mohammed Siraj lifts the team, compares Indian pacer with Darren Gough

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has showered praise on Mohammed Siraj for always giving his all in every spell he bowls. Siraj is known to give his absolute best with the ball and Hussain said a bowler like him is every captain’s dream.

Siraj returned with figures of 4-86 in the first innings of the fifth Test match against England at the Kennington Oval and played a key role in bundling out the home team at 247. The fast bowler accounted for Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and Harry Brook as he bowled a terrific second spell.

Hussain compared Siraj with former England fast bowler Darren Gough.

Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail, “With Chris Woakes going down injured for England, Siraj is the only fast bowler who has lasted the course of the series and put in spell after spell. He is the sort of bloke a captain absolutely loves. He lifts the team. I always talk about Darren Gough being that sort of person when I was England captain, and Siraj is that man for India.”

Hussain lauded the Indian team’s character in the series despite missing the services of veteran batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Hussain added, “I have been hugely impressed with the character and fight they have shown throughout this series. Some people thought they might roll over after the way they lost at Headingley, but they have since shown what a tough side they are to beat. They have won as many sessions as England, if not more. They have just been found wanting in some of the crucial moments. It is especially impressive when you consider they lost legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli right before the series.”

Siraj also dismissed England opener Zak Crawley late on the third day’s play with a brilliant yorker.

India is in a commanding position in the fifth Test, with England needing another 324 runs to win whereas the home team needs another eight wickets to win if Chris Woakes doesn’t bat.