Mohammad Siraj Energizes Crowd at Leeds Test Match

In the first Test match between India and England at Leeds, the hosts have established a strong position, with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett performing exceptionally well. Duckett has scored a century, while Crawley supports him with a half-century. Indian bowler Mohammad Siraj was seen motivating the crowd, echoing the spirit of former captain Virat Kohli. Tensions rose when Siraj confronted Duckett just before Lunch, highlighting the competitive nature of the match. This article delves into the match's key moments and performances.
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Mohammad Siraj Energizes Crowd at Leeds Test Match

England Dominates First Test Against India

In the opening Test match between India and England at Leeds, the home team has taken a firm grip on the game. English openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have shown strong control over the Indian bowling lineup. Duckett has reached his century, while Crawley supports him with a solid half-century. The Indian bowlers appeared visibly frustrated, and the quiet from the crowd was impacting the morale of the Indian side. Notably, Indian fast bowler Mohammad Siraj was seen rallying the fans at the boundary, encouraging them to maintain their spirits, reminiscent of former captain Virat Kohli's never-give-up attitude on the field.


Siraj's Confrontation with Duckett


On Day 5, just before Lunch, Siraj had a heated exchange with England's opener Ben Duckett. As Siraj charged towards the crease, Crawley momentarily lost focus on the ball, citing a distraction behind the sightscreen. Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle quickly pointed out that there was no actual movement behind the screen, suggesting Crawley was trying to stall play to prevent India from bowling another over before the break.


Duckett and Crawley, who have amassed over 2000 runs together as Test openers, took full advantage of any deliveries that were either too full or too short, executing cuts, pulls, and drives effectively. Their partnership helped England score 96 runs in the first session after resuming from an overnight score of 21 without loss. This opening stand set a new record for the fourth innings at Headingley, surpassing the previous record of 112 set by Verdun Scott and Bert Sutcliffe in 1949.


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