The Green Pitch That Lied: A Fast Bowler's Story of Deception and Adaptation:

When Mohammed Siraj first laid eyes on the pitch for the first Test against the West Indies, he could hardly contain his excitement. For a fast bowler, the sight of a "green top" is like a feast for the eyes, promising pace, bounce, and a chance to dominate. "To be honest, I was very excited to see a green-top wicket," Siraj shared. "I was getting ready to bowl all day."

His enthusiasm was so apparent that even captain Rohit Sharma picked up on it, reminding him to stay fresh and not overdo it. The initial look of the pitch had everyone, including the team management, believing that it would be a paradise for seamers. In the team meetings leading up to the match, the plan was clear: if they won the toss, they would bowl first and let the pacers loose.

But cricket, as it often does, threw a curveball. As the match progressed, the reality of the pitch turned out to be quite different from its appearance. Siraj noted that it became progressively slower, making it a challenge for the bowlers. "The wicket became very slow," he explained. "As the day went on, there was not much help for the fast bowlers. It turned into a spinning track."

This change in conditions meant that the spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, ended up playing the lead roles, shouldering much of the bowling responsibility. They were the ones who truly capitalized on the surface, running through the West Indian batting lineup.

Despite the surprising nature of the pitch, Siraj made his presence felt. He struck early, dismissing Joshua Da Silva, providing a crucial breakthrough for the team. It was a classic fast bowler's wicket, with the ball jagging back in to trap the batsman right in front.

Looking ahead, the focus for the fast bowlers, according to Siraj, will be to keep things simple and build pressure. He emphasized the importance of bowling stump-to-stump, a disciplined line and length that can frustrate batsmen and induce mistakes, especially on a slower surface. It’s a classic strategy: when the pitch isn’t offering much, control and consistency become a bowler's best weapons.

So while the "green top" turned out to be a bit of a mirage, Siraj's early excitement and subsequent adaptation to the conditions offer a glimpse into the mindset of a modern fast bowler—always ready for a challenge, and quick to adjust when the game plan needs to change.