Niggle trouble for Siraj as pacer continues to struggle

IT was the 37th over of the Australian innings on Sunday. Mohammed Siraj, having bowled the first two balls, called on the physio.

- GOMESH S @ Brisbane

Rohit Sharma was standing at first slip, wondering what happened. For an Indian fan, it's the worst nightmares coming true — a pacer walking off the field this early into the match is a scenario that would give vivid flashbacks from yesteryears.

That is exactly how it would have felt when Siraj limped off the field with Akash Deep completing the over. By then, Siraj had bowled six overs on the trot in what was his third spell of the game. Rohit wanted one more and Siraj obliged. However, his body couldn't. Through the recent past, there has been enough evidence that Siraj hasn't always had the same endurance for spells longer than what he did in Brisbane. But given the situation — Siraj had been testing Steve Smith who was riding his luck — Sharma perhaps thought he could have another go. But it didn't work.