Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh has weighed in on a pivotal moment from Day 4 of the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval. Waugh shared his views on Mohammed Siraj’s missed catch of Harry Brook, which could overshadow the pacer's otherwise impressive performance throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. According to Waugh, the lapse could prove costly for India and for Siraj’s overall contribution to the series.

The incident occurred when England’s Harry Brook was batting on 19 and lofted a delivery from Prasidh Krishna towards the boundary. Mohammed Siraj, who had just returned to the field after a short break, sprinted in and completed what initially looked like a clean catch. However, his foot made contact with the boundary cushion while completing the grab, converting the dismissal into a six. Brook went on to make a match-defining 111, marking his 10th Test century and giving England a strong grip on the match, now just 35 runs away from victory.

Mark Waugh reacted to the incident after a fan page on social media highlighted how Siraj, despite being one of India’s most hardworking bowlers this series, might leave with a few regrets. Waugh didn’t hold back and gave a blunt response, suggesting that such mistakes tend to linger longer in memory than the good work done. He also questioned Siraj’s consistency as a fielder in international cricket.

Waugh slams Siraj’s focus and fielding reliability

Responding to the post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 4, Mark Waugh said, “Regulation catch at this level. He’s a fairly unreliable catcher at the best of times. Unfortunately, he’d been off the field just before this and probably wasn’t fully focused.” Waugh’s remarks reflect a broader issue of fielding standards under pressure situations, particularly in crucial games like this.

Regulation catch at this level. He’s a fairly unreliable catcher at the best of time. Unfortunately he’d been off the field just before this and probably wasn’t fully focused.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) August 4, 2025

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Besides his excellent bowling efforts, such as taking four wickets in the first innings, Siraj’s failure of a catch gave England the chance to remain in the contest and attempt a 3-1 victory in the series. This incident could be one of the key moments in the Test, and Waugh has indicated that it is a telling example of how a small loss of focus can be very expensive even for those who perform brilliantly.

"We will win 7 in a row now," Mark Waugh kept his words in the World Cup 1999. In the final, Australia simply demolished Pakistan to lift the World Cup and proved their supremacy in world cricket. 

During the preliminary stage of the game, many critics spoke against Australia, especially after their defeat against Pakistan. The match was on May 23, 1999, at Leeds. Inzamam-ul-Haq played an important 81-run knock and was selected as the best player of the match. In that contest, Australia was defeated by a 10-run margin.

On June 20, 1999, Pakistan and Australia faced each other again, this time for the title decider match at Lord's. After their previous encounter on May 23, Wasim Akram's team was confident before the final, and on the other side, pressure mounted over team Australia. 

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Australia smashed Pakistan to show their authority

Then the captain of Australia, Mark Waugh, promised to "win 7 in a row." When the match started at Lord's, the script was flipped before anyone could notice. The road to destruction was paved by Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, and Tom Moody, ornamented by the great Shane Warne. Warne took 4 wickets, and McGrath and Moody claimed a brace each. Pakistan bundled for 132 in 39 overs.

Through this match, Australia showed how fierce they could be when they seemed most vulnerable. With such a low total, Pakistan had no option but to admit the faith, World Cup final loss in 1999. Mark Waugh remained not out for 37, Adam Gilchrist played a blistering 54-run knock off 36, Ricky Ponting scored 24, and with Mark it was Darren Lehmann who remained unbeaten and secured the title for their country. 

The announcement of Australia’s preliminary 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts, with notable exclusions raising eyebrows and pundits weighing in on the selections.

Mitchell Marsh to Lead Australia

Mitchell Marsh’s appointment as Australia’s permanent T20I captain headlines the squad announcement, with Cricket Australia confirming the star all-rounder’s leadership role. Marsh’s previous experience as interim captain in the T20I series has impressed selectors, paving the way for his captaincy stint in the upcoming tournament.

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Australia’s Bowling Department

The inclusion of Ashton Agar as the second specialist spinner underscores Australia’s emphasis on bolstering their spin options for the T20 World Cup. Agar’s presence adds depth to the spin department, providing crucial variations in the team’s bowling arsenal.

Nathan Ellis’ inclusion as the fourth fast bowler alongside stalwarts like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc reflects Australia’s depth in the pace department. Ellis’ promising performances have earned him a spot in the squad, adding further firepower to Australia’s formidable bowling lineup.

Exclusion of Fraser-McGurk and Smith

The omission of Jake Fraser-McGurk and seasoned campaigner Steve Smith, despite his impressive performances in IPL 2024, has stirred controversy. While Fraser-McGurk showcased his batting prowess with the Delhi Capitals, selectors favoured versatility in Cameron Green and Josh Inglis, leading to their inclusion over Fraser-McGurk and Smith.

Mark Waugh’s Opinion on the Squad Selection

Former Australian cricketer and commentator Mark Waugh expressed his views on the squad selection, expressing surprise at Fraser-McGurk’s exclusion. Waugh believes Fraser-McGurk’s versatility should have earned him a place in the squad, along with the inclusion of Matt Short.

Waugh feels Jake Fraser-McGurk should have been there. Waugh mentioned that Fraser-McGurk can do anything, and he should have been picked in the 15-member squad. The Aussie great also mentioned that Matt Short should have been also named in the team.

Jake Fraser-McGurk should be in the T20 World Cup squad because he can give a blistering start to his team, which helps lower-order batters to set a big total on board. 

In the ongoing Indian Premier League, the 23-year-old has a batting strike rate of 233.33 for the Delhi Capitals and has scored 259 runs, with more than half of those coming from sixes.

Mark Waugh wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Aust would have been even more powerful with Jake Fraser Mc in the line up.”

Mark Waugh wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “A very strong squad no doubt that should be hard to beat but to leave out JFM is quite frankly hard to fathom. I would also have had Matt Short in.”

He also wrote: “Yes Short for Agar and you don’t need both Stoinis and Green in the squad. We know what we are getting with all the squad but with JFM we don’t know his ceiling. He could be anything.”

Here’s Australia’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa