New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- Mohammed Siraj has discovered that, for him, time away from competitive cricket can be more disruptive than a heavy workload.
After a two-month break following India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in June, Siraj returned for the Sri Lanka series but struggled to find his usual rhythm and pace. The experience convinced him that regular bowling is essential to keeping his fast-bowling instincts sharp.
"Every bowler's body is different, but mine doesn't handle long breaks well," Siraj said after the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.
"A short breather is fine, but in my 10-year career, I had never taken two full months off. I was working out in the gym and bowling occasionally, but no amount of practice can replicate...