Mohammed Siraj staying in present and not looking too far ahead

Mohammed Siraj

While India players wore a forlorn look at Edgbaston in Birmingham after losing the first Test against England, in an equally clement Bangalore, Mohammed Siraj was quite chuffed about his recent visit to the Old Blighty. Reason: Siraj dismissed England's Alastair Cook - the first English batsman to amass 10,000 runs in Test cricket - at Worcester.

"It was a great feeling to dismiss a batsman like Alastair Cook. He is a reputed international batsmen and it will certainly help my confidence when I get a chance to bowl against such classy batsmen in future. I am so happy to get his wicket," said Siraj after India 'A' restricted South Africa 'A' to 246 for eight on Day One of the four-day game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here.

Does Siraj think he has done enough to give competition to the bowlers in the India senior side? No, was his answer. "I am now focussed on the India 'A' match against South Africa 'A'. I want to chip in for the team in this match. It is not wise for me to think too far ahead and drift away from the present. If the selectors and team think tank feel that I have done something to merit a place in the national team, then they will call me up at the right time," said Siraj, who took three wickets to derail the Proteas.

Siraj detailed how he operated against South Africa A. "There was a bit of movement for me and help from the pitch in the initial part of the day. I just needed to keep the ball full and on the right areas. I thought their batsmen were not comfortable against the moving ball and I was able to exploit it," he said.

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