The X-factors of Mohammed Siraj vs Naseem Shah

[Kroll]

So Siraj was introduced as an X-factor bowler in the 2nd test of India's tour to Oz due to injuries to other front line pacers.

But unlike Naseem's outing last year as an X-factor bowler for Pakistan, Siraj has been successful and looks the part.

Naseem did bowl quickly but was largely ineffective. Used to be Pak's forte with these types of bowlers but India appears to have the upper hand here.

It's still early days especially as far as Siraj is concerned with one test under his belt but what is going on?

 

[Majestic]

Pakistan have lot of young talents coming in while India have an ageing attack with only Bumrah posing whatever serious threat. This is what most Pak fans felt.

Guess what, India have got Siraj too. By the time Ishant and Shami retire, both Bumrah and Siraj will have enough experience and there is Natarajan in line as well. India have nothing to ponder about. Their mindset is to put a bowler only if he has enough FC experience and is already a finished product unlike Pakistan who threw Naseem Shah into the carpet just because he bowls with pace.

 

[wajid]

Siraj has not suffered fast tracking. He came the good old way by performing in domestics at the right age.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Pakistan have lot of young talents coming in while India have an ageing attack with only Bumrah posing whatever serious threat. This is what most Pak fans felt.

Guess what, India have got Siraj too. By the time Ishant and Shami retire, both Bumrah and Siraj will have enough experience and there is Natarajan in line as well. India have nothing to ponder about. Their mindset is to put a bowler only if he has enough FC experience and is already a finished product unlike Pakistan who threw Naseem Shah into the carpet just because he bowls with pace.

Natarajan is 30 years old. A stop gap solution.
But there is Ishan Porel, who in 2018 destroyed Pakistan top order in U-19 WC Semifinal.
He is shaping to be a good prospect red ball cricket, he has had much less hype as compare to Nagarkoti and Mavi, but has a much better domestic record till now.
Plus there are few more, I would not say 38 , but around 7-8 potential test match bowlers in line.

 

[sindhiboy]

Pakistan have lot of young talents coming in while India have an ageing attack with only Bumrah posing whatever serious threat. This is what most Pak fans felt.

Guess what, India have got Siraj too. By the time Ishant and Shami retire, both Bumrah and Siraj will have enough experience and there is Natarajan in line as well. India have nothing to ponder about. Their mindset is to put a bowler only if he has enough FC experience and is already a finished product unlike Pakistan who threw Naseem Shah into the carpet just because he bowls with pace.

Nataranjan won't have a test Career most likely as he's 29.

But india has 5 talented potential test seamers which were unearthed in the u 19 world cup. Their fast bowling stock will last a decade.

However, pak should also be excited. Sameen gul looks very promising and avgs 18 in 24 fc matches , he is 21, and should have been picked ahead of Naseem.
Hasnain and Naseem need more fc practice. Qasim akram is another u 19 talent

And I firmly believe that Shaheen will be a top ranked test bowler in the league of rabada in the near future.

Will most likely take more test wickets than akram too

 

[Buffet]

So Siraj was introduced as an X-factor bowler in the 2nd test of India's tour to Oz due to injuries to other front line pacers.

But unlike Naseem's outing last year as an X-factor bowler for Pakistan, Siraj has been successful and looks the part.

Naseem did bowl quickly but was largely ineffective. Used to be Pak's forte with these types of bowlers but India appears to have the upper hand here.

It's still early days especially as far as Siraj is concerned with one test under his belt but what is going on?

I would say Indian had no choice but to play him due to the injury of others. He was not introduced as an X factor.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

There are hundreds of better bowlers in India than Naseem. He will not even make it to Ranji.

that is extreme, he needs a better coach. he will improve

 

[BreadPakoda]

There are hundreds of better bowlers in India than Naseem. He will not even make it to Ranji.

Disagree. Naseem is very talented but probably not ready for International cricket yet. Give him a few years and he can develop into a very good bowler.

 

[JattMaula]

There are hundreds of better bowlers in India than Naseem. He will not even make it to Ranji.

I would take him in Maharashtra AND Mumbai's Ranji teams without a doubt. Unfortunately, all good Marathi pacers are Varhadi(Vidarbha).

 

[Rightarmfast]

I have watched cricket for over 30 yrs, watched Waqar make his debut. Having watched the likes of akram, waqar, I dont understand what is this big deal about Naseem that Pakistani posters are making? The kid is clearly not ready. By playing him in international cricket, you are not building his career, you are destroying it. He needs to be trained well, needs to play atleast 2-3 yrs of domestic cricket and then introduced to international cricket.
I repeat, if Pakistan plays Naseem any longer, rest assured you are destroying the career of a bowler who could become a decent one with the right coaching and mentorship in a few years.

 

[Hyperion66]

Siraj is a proper fast bowler, not sure about what Naseem is.

 

[Hasan123]

Naseem doesn't have an x factor.

 

[Sir Alex]

Watching Naseem gives the impression of a high on hormones kid who is desperate to prove he is come of age and betraying his inexperience trying to do so. Feel for him, but an away average of 62 after 3 tours doesn't look good at all.

Siraj on the other hand has toiled manfully in domestic and A tours to earn his spot in the test side. He is definitely more settled and secure and knows what he is doing. I do not think he is still Shami class but time will have final say. Siraj also was helped by the kind of pressure Bumrah and Ashwin put on the Aussies by their brilliant bowling.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Siraj was not introduced as any X factor. He was the replacement for Shami. If our preferred attack was fit,Siraj wouldn't get to play.

Dont understand what the OP is trying!!!

 

[Pakhs]

The big difference is that Siraj is a more experienced bowler with years of domestic experience where he was allowed to learn the art of bowling. It is also easier to operate as part of more settled unit than the one Pakistan currently have even someone like Shaheen did not play much domestic cricket.

 

[Rajdeep]

Siraj got a better pitch to bowl as the Melbourne pitch was pacy with lots of zip in it. But credit to him for utilizing the conditions well. The real test starts now when teams will have more videos of him and will prepare better.

The pitches which NZ dished out this series are flat dead sub continent type tracks. Its not same when we toured last year as it had lot more zip on it. Even likes of Boult and Southee struggled here.

Having said that Naseem Shah is not ready for international cricket. I have seen enough cricket to realize that he would go for runs everywhere. He is a dream bowler to face - short height, military medium, no variation...cover the stumps and hit through the line.

Siraj is a product of the system where he toiled in domestic for years before getting a call. As a result he has learnt the art of setting up a batsman and much more assured of his lengths.

Naseem was an emotional selection due to his pace and threw him as a surprise factor in internationals thinking he would rip apart batting line ups. People like Vaughan didnt help the cause either by comparing him with Trueman and his fans got carried away with the hype. But it was always bound to fail and it did.

 

[Sir Alex]

To understand what experience brings to plate, look at how Siraj set up Green in the first innings of the MCG test. Two or three very good outswingers were followed by dead accurate inswinger. It was something Akram would have been proud of.

And that kind of intelligence comes with age, experience and skill. It doesn't come because you can bowl 140 kph.