"He is not ideal for conditions in Australia" - Sanjay Manjrekar makes big remark while analyzing Indian pacer's struggles in BGT 2024-25

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that pacer Mohammed Siraj's current bowling style is not ideal for conditions in Australia. According to Manjrekar, the right-arm pacer seems unsure of whether he is a seam or swing bowler.

Siraj went wicketless on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, December 26. He bowled 15 overs for 69 runs, going at an economy rate of 4.60. Batting first after winning the toss, Australia went to stumps at a healthy 311-6 as their top four batters, including debutant Sam Konstas, notched up half-centuries.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after the opening day's play at the MCG, Manjrekar shared his thoughts on Siraj's struggles and opined that the 30-year-old will need to reinvent his bowling to taste success in Australia.

"He's caught in between being a seam bowler like Mohammed Shami, who would come and hit the pitch and [has] great wrists. To begin with, Siraj was an out and out swing bowler. I remember him bowling those balls leaving the left-handers. Now, he is between the two. When you release balls on Australian pitches that don't have as much life, then you become easy fodder," Manjrekar said.

"Somewhere, I think, Siraj needs to reinvent a little bit, where he is not releasing the ball as much. Siraj, at this stage, the way he is bowling, he is not ideal for the kind of conditions we have in Australia," the 59-year-old went on to add.

The former India batter also questioned the decision to not have a proper fourth seamer and stick with the part-time option of Nitish Reddy. Manjrekar elaborated:

"I thought India should have had a back-up seamer. There is no sign yet of this pitch being great for spinners - who knows days three, four and five, what could happen. But they would have loved a pure seam bowler at this stage and that. For now, you can say, [Jasprit] Bumrah will have to carry the load."

Bumrah picked up 3-75 from 21 overs on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. While Siraj and Reddy went wicketless, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar chipped in with one wicket each.

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Mohammed Siraj's bowling stats in BGT 2024-25

Siraj is fourth on the list of leading wicket-takers in BGT 2024-25. In seven innings (ongoing), he has claimed 13 wickets at an average of 29.23 and an economy rate of 3.87.

The right-arm pacer took 2-20 & 3-51 in Team India's 295-run triumph in Perth. He registered figures of 4-98 & 0-9 in the pink-ball in Adelaide. In the rain-hit third Test at The Gabba, Siraj claimed 2-97 & 2-36.