India pacer Mohammed Siraj didn’t spare wicket-keeper batter Srikar Bharat as far as staring a cricketer on a cricket ground is concerned. Known for his aggressiveness, Siraj often gives stares to opposition batters especially after beating them with pace.
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The right-arm bowler, however, fixedly looked a teammate after he advised captain Rohit Sharma for opting against a DRS in the second over of the second innings of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 against Australia at The Oval.
Perhaps let down by Bharat not supporting him in convincing Sharma, Siraj continuously glanced him from close quarters until he didn’t move out of his sight.
Mohammed Siraj Stares Srikar Bharat As He Advises Rohit Sharma Against DRS
It all happened on the eighth ball of the innings when Siraj beat Australia opening batter Usman Khawaja (13) on the second ball that he bowled. With the ball seaming away from the left-handed batter, it hit him on the back pad before falling short of Bharat behind the stumps. While a caught behind was ruled out of play, Siraj was supremely confident about him having trapped Khawaja in front of the stumps.
Desperate for wickets like any other bowler in this format, Siraj went on with his usual pleading in front of the captain but to no avail on this particular occasion. Bharat, who was in the best position to make a call, wasn’t dictated by the bowler’s emotion to save his team a review.
Was Usman Khawaja Out?
No. Replays confirmed that the ball had pitched way outside the leg-stump. Hence, had India challenged the on-field umpire’s decision, they would’ve ended up losing a review.
Mohammed Siraj Stares Marnus Labuschagne on Day 3
As was the case in the first innings, Siraj became the first Indian bowler to pick a wicket. With David Warner (1) edging a ball to Bharat in Siraj’s second over, it had fired up the right-arm bowler.
As a result, making facing Siraj difficult for teammate Marnus Labuschagne. Siraj’s stares weren’t just limited to Bharat especially after he hit Labuschagne’s arm a couple of times with the new ball. Unlike the previous times, Siraj didn’t utter any words to Labuschagne though.
