Will have to show a lot of patience on SCG pitch: Siraj

SYDNEY: India pacer Mohammad Siraj called the Sydney pitch a batting beauty but said the turn it is offering to spinners has given his side a lot of hope moving forward. “It is very a flat wicket. Our plan was to build pressure and not try too much as it is a very easy wicket for the batsman. Even the bouncers are not carrying as well it was in the the earlier games,” said Siraj, who made his debut in the previous game.

“But Test cricket it is all about patience and we must keep that in mind,” The odd short balls from the fast bowlers did not trouble the home batsmen on the opening day.

Trusting the trueness of the pitch, the likes of Smith and Labuschagne were not afraid to even step out against the spinners. But the turn late in the day has given India encouragement for Friday. “It is because of the easy nature of the surface that their batsmen stepped out but when they saw the ball turning sharply late in the day, they went back to the crease,” Siraj observed. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow. The plan is to bowl in one tight channel and build pressure.”

When the Indian national anthem was played out before the start of the game, Siraj got teary-eyed thinking about his father, who died in November. The pacer had stayed back in Australia to fulfil his dream of seeing him play for India.

Asked about Thursday’s emotional moment that was captured on camera, Siraj said: “Just remembered my father at that time. I was really emotional. He wanted me to see playing Test cricket. “Wish he could see me playing for India.”

On to the match again and Siraj said the bowlers made a conscious effort to send down an odd short bouncer to debutant Will Pucovski, who has suffered from concussion on multiple occasions in his short career. “Last match (the practice match) we were bowling short to him and in this game also we tried that as he was playing them and not leaving. So, the plan was to surprise him with an odd bouncer without shifting focus on line and length.”

Siraj was also seen talking a lot to fellow pacer Navdeep Saini, who is making his debut here and dismissed a well-set Pucovski.

“Saini and I have played a lot of matches together for India A, so we bond really well. I was just telling him to do what we did in domestic cricket and India A.”

On how dropped catches affect the bowlers’ morale in the wake of Rishabh Pant grassing Pucvoski twice in the day, Siraj added: “It is part of the game and you do get upset as a bowler when it happens.”

“But it is something we can’t do much about...it becomes important to move on and focus on the next over.”

I was loving it: Pucovski

Australia’s Will Pucovski waited a long time to make his Test debut but he delivered at the first time of asking with a half century. The 22-year-old, his shaggy hair bulging out from beneath his helmet, certainly rode his luck but his 62 was the best return for an Australian opener in the series so far.

Pucovski was called up to the Test squad on the back of two double centuries for Victoria in Sheffield Shield only to be struck with a ball to the helmet playing against the tourists for Australia A in December and suffering a concussion. A series of concussions have plagued his career and, he believes, contributed to mental health issues that have twice forced him to take time off from the game when on the cusp of test selection. After finally passing the health protocols, Pucovski received the cherished “baggy green” cap on Thursday morning, however, before being sent out to open.

“It was a pretty incredible experience, it meant everything to be honest,” he told reporters.

“It’s been quite surreal, it’s been a rollercoaster. I feel like I’ve seen about a million doctors but I got through the protocols and I’m very happy to be here.”

He looked less comfortable facing Ravichandran Ashwin and looked set for an exit on 26 when edged the India spinner behind only for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to drop the ball cold.

“The way Ashwin used the seam and his variations was something I hadn’t seen before,” he said.

“(But) I was just absolutely loving it, it was probably my favourite day of cricket yet,” he said.