India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj on Thursday revealed that on-field umpires had offered his team the option of leaving the third Test against Australia midway after he was subjected to racial abuse by the crowd in Sydney, a proposal that was turned down by skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
Siraj and his senior pace colleague Jasprit Bumrah faced racial abuse for two days at the Sydney Cricket Ground, forcing the Indian team management to lodge an official complaint with match referee David Boon. Cricket Australia later offered an unreserved apology for the incidents.
Siraj, called a “brown monkey” by some spectators, had reported the matter to Rahane, who brought it to the notice of on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Paul Wilson during the match.
“I faced abuses in Australia. The case is going on, let’s see whether I get justice or not. My job was to report the incident to the captain,” the 26-year-old, who was India’s highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps during the historic 2-1 series win, said during a press conference after his arrival here.
“The umpires offered us to leave the game but Rahane (bhai) said we won’t leave the game. We did no mistake, so we will play,” he recalled about the match that was halted for a few minutes on the fourth day and ended in a thrilling draw.
He said the unruly crowd behaviour acted as a morale-booster for him during his debut Test series.
“The abuses which I faced in Australia made me mentally stronger. I didn’t let them affect my game,” Siraj said.
Siraj turned out to be one of the architects of India’s historic Australia tour and successfully stepped into the shoes of his senior pace colleagues after making his debut in the series-turning second Test in Melbourne.
But the right-arm pacer said it’s just the start and he can’t afford to relax a bit if he desires to play for India for a long time.
“I never thought like that (I will replace senior bowlers). But when senior players got injured, the entire team was banking on me to do well. It was challenging and there was pressure on me as well,” he said describing the moments before his debut Test.
“(But) I can’t relax. I want to play for India and keep on performing. I need to continue from here. I don’t want this to get to my head. I need to set my future goals.
“I need to take this confidence into the next series (against England). Whatever role the team management gives me (in England series), I will do my best,” he added.