WTC Final 2023: He looks like the ultimate competitor – Ricky Ponting lauds Mohammed Siraj

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting hailed Mohammed Siraj for his competitive abilities as the fast bowler always tries to give his best. Siraj returned with figures of 4-108 in the first innings of the WTC Final against Australia at the Oval.

Australia’s overnight score on day one was 327-3 and Siraj played a key role in skittling out the opposition at 469 with his fine spell. Siraj also got the big wicket of Travis Head with a short-pitched delivery after the left-hander scored a magnificent knock of 163 runs.

Furthermore, the fast bowler from Hyderabad accounted for Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon. In fact, Ponting feels Siraj sometimes gets carried away but he is always ready for a battle.

Praising Siraj, Ponting told ICC: “I loved seeing that (Siraj’s aggression), and he looks like the ultimate competitor. Maybe, sometimes, he gets carried away and goes a little bit over the top, but you need those guys in your side when things aren’t going well.”

Ponting continued: “He was the one today who said I am going to be the guy that is going to turn things around, and what I loved was that his pace didn’t drop at all during the whole innings. From the first ball yesterday morning until late this afternoon, his pace was hovering around that 86 or 87-mile and hour mark. and that says a lot about a great attitude.”

Siraj was also seen having a heated conversation with Steve Smith on the second day’s play but the latter responded in a sedate manner.

Ponting feels India let themselves down in the first hour of play on the opening day as they were too short in their length. The conditions were overcast but the Indian fast bowlers failed to make full use of them.

“I think where they let themselves down was in the first hour yesterday (Day 1) and bowling too short. With the wicket conditions, the overhead conditions they had and the brand-new Dukes ball, they had to bowl fuller and get the ball driven back down the ground.

“They needed to have Australia four or five down at lunch, and they only had them two down, which was a pretty good result (for Australia).”

Australia was able to extend their dominance after they had India at 151-5 at stumps on Day 2 after the Rohit Sharma-led team failed to deliver with the bat.