Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull criticized India's decision to send Mohammed Siraj as a nightwatchman after Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal in the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. Despite India's intentions being clear, the ploy backfired as Siraj was dismissed for a golden duck. Doull believes R Ashwin would have been a better option given his batting prowess against spin. However, he also understands the psychological reasoning behind the move.
Mohammed Siraj as Nightwatchman: A Disastrous Decision by India
During the third Test match between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, India's decision to send young pacer Mohammed Siraj as a nightwatchman after the dismissal of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal drew criticism from former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull.
Background
A nightwatchman is a batter who is sent in to bat late in the day, usually when the regular batters are tired or there is a risk of losing a wicket against spin. Their primary role is to protect the wickets of the main batters and see out the remaining overs of the day's play.
Doull's Criticism
Doull questioned India's decision to send Siraj, a bowler with a limited batting ability, as a nightwatchman. He argued that R Ashwin, a more experienced and skilled batter against spin, would have been a better choice.
"Siraj is a bowler, he's not a batter," Doull said. "Ashwin is a genuine all-rounder, he can bat, bowl, and field. I would have sent Ashwin in that situation."
India's Reasoning
Despite Doull's criticism, India may have had their reasons for sending Siraj instead of Ashwin. Siraj is a left-handed batter, which could have given India an advantage against New Zealand's right-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. Additionally, he has a reputation for being an aggressive batter, which could have given India a quick start to their innings.
The Result
However, the ploy backfired spectacularly as Siraj was dismissed for a golden duck, edging a delivery from Patel to the wicketkeeper.
Doull's Psychological Explanation
Doull acknowledged that India's decision may have been based on psychological factors as well. Sending a bowler as a nightwatchman can intimidate the opposition and send a message that the team is not afraid of losing wickets.
"Maybe they were trying to send a message to New Zealand," Doull said. "But it didn't work out that way."
FAQs
Why is a nightwatchman used? To protect the wickets of the main batters and see out the remaining overs of the day's play.
Who is a typical nightwatchman? A low-order batter who is not expected to score many runs but can defend against the opposing bowlers.
What factors influence the selection of a nightwatchman? Batting ability against the type of bowlers facing, handedness, and psychological impact.
Is it always the best decision to send a nightwatchman? No, it depends on the circumstances of the match and the availability of suitable batters.
What happened when India sent Siraj as a nightwatchman? Siraj was dismissed for a golden duck, exposing the fragility of India's top order and leading to criticism from some experts.
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah made history by picking his second consecutive fifer in Australia during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. The 24-year-old broke the record for most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a Test match in Australia, surpassing the legendary Kapil Dev. Bumrah dismissed Alex Carey in just his first ball on Day 2 to achieve this feat, helping India gain the upper hand in the match.
In the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, Jasprit Bumrah proved his expertise as a fast bowler by picking up 5 wickets. Despite leading the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah's consistent performance has made him the first Indian pacer to take 50 wickets in a single edition of the World Test Championship. He also leads the 2024 wicket-taker list for India with 61 wickets in 18 matches.
In a dramatic first day of the Test match between India and Australia in Perth, India took control of the game by bowling out the hosts for just 67 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the star of the day, taking four crucial wickets in the final session to put India in a strong position. Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey managed to salvage some hope for Australia, but with the dominant bowling performance by India, the hosts are facing an uphill battle. This match also raised questions about Virat Kohli's form, as the star batsman failed to produce a high-score once again.
The first day of the India vs Australia Test match at Perth was a rollercoaster ride, with 17 wickets falling and Australia reeling at 67 for 7 at stumps. The star of the day was Jasprit Bumrah who ripped apart the Australian top-order with four wickets, making it one of the worst starts for the hosts at home this century. With India's lowest Test score at home at 85 against South Africa in 2016, Bumrah's pacy unit will be aiming to create history on Day 2. The rest of the series and even Saturday's match is now up in the air, making it a thrilling and unpredictable game for both teams.
In this interview, Desert Vipers' Luke Wood, who has played in the Indian Premier League for the Mumbai Indians, talks about the ongoing debate on the best Test batter in the modern era. While acknowledging the greatness of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as multi-format players, Wood believes that Joe Root's consistent performance in the Test format makes him the best. He also shares his experience of playing in the IPL and how the Twenty20 format presents a unique challenge for bowlers.
After a dramatic first day of the 1st Test match between India and Australia, where 17 wickets fell, both teams are looking to improve their batting performances on Day 2. Australia's Josh Hazlewood caused trouble for the Indian batsmen with his extraordinary bounce, picking up 3 wickets. However, India's Jasprit Bumrah also made an impact, getting 4 wickets and leaving Australia struggling at 67/7 at the end of the day. Despite a fightback from Australia's tail, India remains on top.
India's captain Jasprit Bumrah's outstanding performance with the ball has helped the team make a comeback in the first Test against Australia. Bumrah has already taken four wickets and will be looking to dismiss the tail-enders to prevent Australia from taking a first-innings lead. Meanwhile, Australia will rely on Alex Carey to bat with their tail-enders and surpass India's first-innings score in order to stay in the game.
Indian opening batsman KL Rahul was dismissed in a controversial manner on day 1 of the first Test between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series. The former cricketers Matthew Hayden and Sanjay Manjrekar have pointed out a major flaw in the snicko meter, which may have led to the controversial decision. India ended their innings on 150 while Australia are struggling at 67 for 7 at the end of Day 1.
West Indies opening batsman Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze both came close to scoring their first test centuries on day one of the first test match against Bangladesh. Louis made 97 runs off 218 balls while Athanaze scored 90 runs off 130 deliveries. However, they both fell short of their milestone due to rare rash shots, with Louis falling to a key wicket from Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The pair's partnership of 140 runs helped rebuild the West Indies innings after a shaky start.
Katie Ledecky, the Olympic swimming champion, recently made a visit to her former school, Stone Bridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland. During her visit, she interacted with students and answered their questions, including one from second grader Anna Reilly. Ledecky's visit provided an exciting opportunity for the children to meet and learn from the champion athlete.