• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Oval Test: Former England captain Nasser Hussain disclosed that the Oval Test hero Mohammed Siraj's on-field fiery persona has earned him the nickname 'Mr. Angry' by Ben Stokes’ team and called the India pacer ‘born entertainer.'

Siraj returned with a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the fifth Test at The Oval as India outplayed England by six runs in a thriller to draw the series 2-2 on Monday.

The 31-year-old star pacer's nine-wicket haul in the game not only earned him the 'Man of the Match Award' but also brought him accolades from his legion of fans.

With a relentless attitude to perform and determination, Siraj played in all five Tests and he was an unstoppable force on the field, toiling tirelessly India's prime wicket-taker. He grabbed 23 wickets across the course of the series, bowling more than 185 overs in the five matches.

ALSO READ: IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj On Missing Jasprit Bumrah's Presence In Oval Test, 'I Believe In Jassi Bhai And Myself'

In his column for the Daily Mail, Hussain acknowledged the tireless efforts of Siraj and claimed he was the reason that stood tall between India and defeat in the visitors' victories in both games.

"Of course, they ended up winning the two games that Bumrah didn't play, and the reason for that was because of one man, really - Mohammed Siraj," said Hussain.

In a workload management era, Siraj's epic tale of giving his all with unwavering commitment narrates a story of him being an indispensable cog in India's team machinery.

Former England captain compared Siraj to spin legend Shane Warne's moment in the 2005 Ashes when he could not take a catch of Kevin Pietersen.

"Siraj is a cricketer that always gives it everything. Yes, he plays the pantomime villain at times, a bit like Warney did, and so people love to hate him, but he regularly has that massive smile on his face too," he added.

ALSO READ: IND vs ENG: Michael Vaughan Rips Into England For 'Panicking' On Day 5 Of Oval Test, Says 'Needed One Partnership'

"He's fiery, the England boys call him Mr. Angry, and he has the longest follow through in the history of the game, but he demands your attention. You could do a montage of the histrionics - down on his knees in despair at Lord’s, the celebrations and dejection when DRS decisions go one way or another," the former England captain said.

"He’s a born entertainer, but crucially he's got all the other attributes you need at the highest level: heart, passion, and ultimately skill," said Hussain.