London, Aug 3: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting pulled no punches in criticising Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj after a crucial fielding error during Day 4 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval allowed England’s Harry Brook a lucky escape — and six more runs.
As England looked to wrest momentum in the morning session, Brook, alongside Joe Root, began rebuilding with intent, threatening to derail India’s hopes of squaring the series. Prasidh Krishna appeared to have delivered the breakthrough India needed when Brook mistimed a pull shot off the first ball of the 35th over, sending it high into the air.Siraj tracked the catch perfectly and completed it — but disaster struck in the form of a split-second misjudgment. The fast bowler stepped back after the take and unintentionally touched the boundary rope, converting what would’ve been a prized wicket into a six. Realising the error, Siraj buried his face in his hands, visibly shattered by the moment.
Brook, handed a second life, made it count and remained unbeaten at lunch, continuing to frustrate the Indian bowling attack.Ponting, speaking to Sky Sports, expressed disbelief at the lapse. “What was he thinking? He didn’t need to move. There was no pressure on him to adjust his position. That’s a massive mistake, and it could prove to be very costly. Brook is dangerous — he reads bowlers like it’s a T20 game even in Test cricket,” said the former Aussie skipper.
The intensity of the match drew praise from former India coach Ravi Shastri, who relished the fierce contest between bat and ball. “That session was Test cricket at its finest — a cautious first hour with quality bowling, lots of chatter, and then a shift. India got a couple of wickets, but the tide turned with England’s counterattack,” Shastri observed.
Comparing Brook’s aggressive approach to India’s Rishabh Pant, Shastri added, “Brook played like Pant. He anticipated well, took the attack to the bowlers, and made his intentions clear. That’s the kind of disruption that swings a session.”With the Test delicately poised and every opportunity critical, Siraj’s boundary blunder could yet loom large in the final outcome of the series. (Agencies)
