Sometimes, you feel it is almost unfair that there is no yardstick to measure intensity with which a bowler operates, especially in Test cricket.
Had there been one, Mohammed Siraj would have scored 110/100, especially in the World Test Championship final vs Australia at The Oval that began on Wednesday, despite India being behind the eight-ball for large parts of the contest.
Several minutes of air time during the final were spent on how poorly prepared Indian bowlers were for the rigours of Test cricket as commentators kept saying how a long IPL season just before the WTC final, affected their speeds and the areas they bowled in, especially when they were asked to bowl their third and fourth spells.
Incidentally, India have ended up bowling over 200 overs and on all four days of the Test so far, testing the fitness of the bowlers even more.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri had sarcastically commented, "yo yo test has become go go test" on the Hindi feed of the broadcasters and compared the scores of the Aussies which is 17.5, compared to India's and said lowering that mark to 15 and below hasn't worked.
He also urged the BCCI to introduce clauses in the IPL contracts that allowed them to pull out key players a month before important tournaments.
Some of those comments seemed justified after the tripe that the support bowlers dished out after lunch on Day 1, despite having the perfect conditions to bowl in.
However, when Siraj had the red Dukes in his hand, never once were the words fatigue or conditioning mentioned.
Having been used to bowling only four overs per innings for the last two months during the IPL, getting the required miles in the legs to be in ideal Test match shape may have been an excuse for other bowlers. Not Siraj, who bowled 50 overs over two months while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore and showed his growth as a white-ball bowler too. His economy rate was the best across all IPL seasons.
1/9:Mohammed Siraj completes 50 wickets in Test cricket
2/9:Siraj achieves the milestone in WTC Final
<p>Paceman Mohammed Siraj achieved the milestone of 50 wickets in Test cricket on Thursday during India's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in London.<br /></p>AFP
3/9:Siraj grabs four wickets in 1st innings of WTC final
<p>The 29-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler was the standout performer for India in the innings, picking up 4/108 in 28.3 overs. His victims included Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon.<br /></p>Getty Images
4/9:Siraj's milestone comes up in 19 Tests
<p>Siraj has reached this milestone in just 19 Tests, with an average of 30.96. He has an economy rate of 3.31, and his best bowling figures in a Test match are 5/73, which is his only five-wicket haul in the format.<br /><br /><br /></p>AP
5/9:Siraj performs well in SENA countries
<p>The pacer has established himself as a formidable bowler for India, particularly in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) conditions. Out of his 51 wickets, 38 have come in these overseas nations.<br /></p>ANI
6/9:22 wickets for Siraj in England
<p>In England, Siraj has been impressive, taking 22 wickets in six Tests at an average of 31.90 and an economy rate of 3.86. His best figures in England are 4/32.<br /></p>Getty Images
7/9:13 wickets on Aussie soil
<p>On Australian soil, he has claimed 13 wickets in three Tests at an average of 29.85 and an economy rate of 3.02. His best figures in Australia are 5/73.<br /></p>AFP
8/9:Only seven wickets in India
<p>In India, Siraj has taken seven wickets in six Tests, averaging just over 24 with an economy rate of 2.93. His best figures in India are 3/19.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/9:Mixed show in SA and Bangladesh
<p>Siraj has also contributed with the ball in South Africa, taking three wickets in two Tests, and in Bangladesh, where he has claimed six wickets in two matches.<br /></p>AFPIn the WTC, across four days, he bowled 28.3 overs in the first innings and 20 in the second taking five wickets overall and was summoned by skipper Rohit Sharma whenever he needed wickets.
On Day Three, he tormented World No.1 batter Marnus Labuschagne in the second innings after dismissing David Warner. Running in as if he is on an unlimited diet of gasoline, Siraj, understanding that the pitch had become drier and browner and possibly slower than it was on Day One, bowled more in the six to eight metre mark. He hit the hard length on the surface and frequently hit the batter on either the shoulder or the glove.
On Day Four, he dished out some fast stuff to all-rounder Cameron Green. The death stare he gave Green after hitting him on the shoulder before asking him if he's ok, was classic good cop, bad cop. Like all fast bowlers, aggression is in Siraj's DNA. But he backs it up with skill first and only, if necessary, a word or two later.
"Aggression is very important in my bowling. Test cricket is based on aggression. It's not just about delivering simple ball and walking away without saying anything," Siraj told ICC in a video interview.
"When I bowl with aggression, I keep my body engaged. Unlike some other bowlers who bowl here and there with aggression, my bowling is precise. The more aggression I put into my game, the more success I achieve," he said.
In the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, India have been well served by the relentless Siraj.
