Pitch is getting slower, hitting one area consistently key to get wickets: Siraj

India's debutant pacer Mohammed Siraj said the bowlers will need to remain patient and hit the right lines to wipe off the Australian lower-order on day four.

The Indian bowlers, despite Umesh Yadav's injury early into the second innings, reduced the home team to 133 for six. The host has just a two-run lead with four wickets remaining in the second Test.

India pacer Mohammed Siraj felt that work he put during lockdown and India A tours helped him prepare to be ready for his Test debut at the second Test here in Melbourne.

The pacer has picked up three wickets so far, two in the first and one in the second as India seized control of the match on the third day.

“The performance in domestic cricket and India A tour has helped me focus on the basics consistently. During the lockdown, I worked on my fitness and my bowling. I did well in the IPL and that gave me confidence that I can do well for India as well,” said Siraj after the third day’s play on Monday.

The Hyderabad pacer, who picked up one wicket on the third day as the Indian bowlers reduced the host to 133 for six after taking a 131-run lead said there was not much help for the bowlers and that patience will be the key to bowling out Australia soon on the fourth day.

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“The wicket has become slow and, there is not much swing either. So we have to be patient and bowl in one area,” added the 26-year-old.

Siraj also said that team focussed on squeezing the runs after Umesh Yadav limped off the field saying, “After Umesh Bhai left, we tried to focus on bowling maiden overs and build the pressure bowling dot balls.”

The pacer also credited the role of bowling coach Bharat Arun in his career as the latter had worked with pacer when he was coach of the Hyderabad team a few years ago.

“When he was with Hyderbad, he used to tell me that I could take the wicket of any batsman and encouraged me.”