"Siraj is playing on DSP quota" - Fans react as speedster returns wicketless on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Mohammed Siraj failed to deliver with the ball during Australia's first innings of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test in Melbourne, drawing strong reactions from fans. The speedster looked clueless with the ball, conceding 122 runs in his 23 overs and returning wicketless.

The Hyderabad-born pacer has failed to support Jasprit Bumrah throughout the series. His failures came when he was supposed to step up in Mohammed Shami's absence, who didn't get the fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for the last two Tests.

The 30-year-old managed four wickets in the third Test in Brisbane and has 13 in the series so far.

Fans on X slammed Mohammed Siraj for his failures with the ball. One user wrote:

"Siraj has had plenty of chances but still bowls like a rookie, leaking runs. He was lost in India and hasn’t found himself in Australia either. He is a weak link in the team…. Poor Bumrah is just carrying the team like a one-man army."

Another user wrote:

"Our 2nd best bowler is getting crazy belt treatment."

A third user added:

"There needs to be a genuine conversation about Siraj, he’s not working."

Here are a few more reactions:

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"Not ideal with the conditions" - Sanjay Manjrekar wants Mohammed Siraj to reinvent himself amid failures in Australia

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has asked Mohammed Siraj to reinvent himself amid recent failures in Australia. The reaction came as the pacer has leaked over four runs per over in the ongoing series.

Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo after Day 1:

"Siraj, at this stage, the way he is bowling is not ideal with the conditions that we have in Australia."

The cricketer-turned-commentator continued:

"He's caught in between a seam bowler like Shami who would and hit the pitch and break. So, he was able to get more out of the pitch. To begin with, Siraj was an outswing bowler, in bowling those balls, leaving the left-handers but now he is in between the two."

"When you release balls on Australian pitches that don't have as much life then you become easy for the [opposition]. Somewhere, I think Siraj needs to reinvent a little bit where he is not releasing the ball," he added.

Meanwhile, Australia posted 474 in their first innings, courtesy of Steve Smith's 140. The top three also chipped in with half-centuries.

Jasprit Bumrah was yet again the pick of the bowlers for the tourists, returning with four wickets. Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep also picked up three and two wickets, respectively.

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