India pacer Mohammed Siraj was his animated self as he attempted to sledge England batter Joe Root on the opening day of the third Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday.
The incident occurred shortly after the lunch interval, when Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj were building pressure on Root and Ollie Pope by bowling a series of dot balls.
England went to lunch at 85 for 2 and returned with an aggressive mindset, looking to increase the scoring rate in true ‘Bazball’ fashion. However, the Indian team tightened the screws — the bowlers were spot on, the fielders closed the gaps, and the runs dried up. The pressure was so intense that England failed to score a single run for 28 consecutive deliveries, repeatedly hitting the ball straight to the fielders.
During the 31st over, Root attempted to break free from the mounting pressure by going for a quick shot, but the ball narrowly missed the edge of his bat. Siraj seized the moment and couldn’t resist taking a dig at England’s ‘Bazball’ approach. He mockingly encouraged Root to play a risky shot, expressing his eagerness to see the strategy in action.
“Baz, Baz, Bazball. Now play Bazball. I want to see,” Siraj taunted Root.
Root, however, remained laser-focused and ended the day unbeaten on 99*. Thanks largely to his efforts, England finished at 251 for 4. For India, Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed the first two wickets, while Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja took one each.
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