Conceding runs at the hands of opposition’s tail-enders is perhaps the most annoying thing for any bowler and this frustration was visible on the faces of England fast bowlers on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

© Instagram/Mohammed Siraj

Indian tail-enders, especially Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, batted superbly to add crucial runs down the order, propelling India to a healthy first-innings lead. The longer they stayed at the crease, England bowlers started losing their cool and tried to get under the skin of Indian batters by sledging them.

© Instagram/Mohammed Siraj

However, the move didn’t yield any result, all it did was motivate Indian batters to spend even more time in the middle. Watching others score runs, Mohammad Siraj, India’s No. 11 batsman, also tried to free his arms against none other than James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the longest format. He swung the bat hard but missed the ball completely, which Anderson didn’t like at all and he said a few words to him to rile him up.

© Reuters

In his short Test career, one thing that Siraj has established is that he is not someone who gets flustered by such altercations. In fact, he loves to give it back to the opponent and he did exactly that. As Anderson was walking back to his bowling mark, Siraj stood firm and clashed shoulders as he crossed path on his way to the batting crease and even gave him a stern look.

This incident took place after the completion of the 84th over of the innings and in the next over India were bowled out but they had already taken a vital 95-run lead.

Shami - 13
Bumrah - 28
Siraj - 7

The Indian tail made 48 runs at the end. This is new India, where tailenders make runs too. #INDvENG #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/DpxcJzTBB7

— 𝙨𝙤𝙝𝙤𝙢 ४ (@AwaaraHoon) August 6, 2021

Now that's the thing which makes the whole difference..
The same thing let us down in the WTC final but the way they played today #Shami #Bumrah #Siraj #IndianTail #Tail #IndvsEng #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/tVUBTxQbvX

— GARVIT_GUPTA (@er_geet_gupta) August 6, 2021

#INDvENG
Siraj and bumrah to England bowlers : pic.twitter.com/lKM6ApljmC

— Mr_Snowy_07 (@07Snowy) August 6, 2021

#EngvInd INDIA All out for 278.
Again a physical contact of shoulders between Siraj and Anderson..

All happening at Nottingham. Englishmen are getting mad and ready to fight. pic.twitter.com/fTAi2bZWLv

— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) August 6, 2021 

As Jasprit Bumrah was going hard from the other end, Siraj played sensibly and gave him as much strike as possible and walked back to the pavilion unbeaten, which showed that the sledging had no effect on him. 

The rain interrupted the play for the second day running and only 11.1 overs could be bowled in England’s second innings. The hosts were 25 for no loss, trailing India by 70 runs, when the play was abandoned due to bad weather on Day 2.

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