India, Aug. 1 -- Even in a lengthy series, you can single out moments of inspiration that can prove defining. Mohammed Siraj's unrelenting spell of eight overs before tea on Day 2 at The Oval could prove to be one. The onus is on India as a collective to back up his brilliance.

It was immediately after India had lost the Lord's Test narrowly that Siraj doffed his hat to Ben Stokes for bowling tireless marathon spells. "If you can learn from someone, there's no shame," he said. No shame, indeed. Just like his English pace counterpart, the Hyderabad fast bowler strained every sinew and kept running in to keep India in the Test after their batters had folded up for 224 in the first innings. His spell could well prove the spark for an Indian...