Mohammed Siraj (L) and Mohammed Shami in conversation. (bcci.tv)
While Mohammed Siraj’s celebration may be an expression of the passion that comes from wearing the Indian jersey and performing well in it, Mohammed Shami’s words speak volumes
Mohammed Shami has advised his fast bowler Mohammed Siraj to do away with his high-octane ‘siu’ celebration emulating football star Cristiano Ronaldo after taking a wicket.
The two new ball bowlers were having a candid chat after India’s five-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI of the series in Mumbai on Friday and Shami wanted to know from Siraj the secret behind their celebrations. ,My celebration is simple. I am following Cristiano and also his fan. Jab bowled hota hain tabhi main woh celebration karta hoon aur fine-leg pe catch jaati hain toh main celebration nahi karta hoon (It’s simple. I follow Cristiano Ronaldo and I am his fan. I celebrate this when I get a batsman bowled.
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However, senior pro Shami raised the alarm. ,There is one advice. Acha baat hain aap kisi ke fan hain. As a fast bowler aapko yeh jumpo se thoda sa daur rehna chahiye (I have some advice. It is good to be a fan of someone, but as a fast bowler you need to stay away from such jumps),” Shami told Siraj fondly. Siraj agreed.
While Siraj’s celebration may be an expression of the passion that comes with wearing the Indian jersey and performing well in it, that too in front of home fans against frontline opposition like Australia, there is actually a lot of merit in Shami’s words. No player should do anything that puts them at risk of injury, and the stakes are even higher for fast bowlers, whose profession is something that exposes them to a lot of physical stress and strain in any case . In such a situation, celebration, which may lead to injury, is unnecessary and should be avoided.
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The importance of India’s fast bowlers staying injury-free assumes significance when you consider that there are two big events coming up in the next few months – the ICC World Test Championship final in June and the ICC World Cup in October-November. India are already without the services of their match-winning pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been sidelined due to a back problem and there is no clarity on when he can rejoin. In Bumrah’s absence, Siraj has stepped up and provided good support to Shami and India cannot afford to sideline him with a groin injury.
After celebrating, the name of Hasan Ali of Pakistan comes to mind as soon as it comes to the injury of fast bowlers. His trademark ‘bomb blast’ celebration in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2018 caused him to strain a neck muscle. England’s Olly Stone injured his knee while celebrating a wicket in a NatWest T20 Blast match in 2016. There is also the case of England woman Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who injured herself while celebrating a wicket in an ODI against Australia in 2019. Recently, South African spinner Keshav Maharaj injured his Achilles while celebrating a wicket in a Test match against the West Indies earlier this year and had to be carried on a stretcher.
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