ADELAIDE: Tempers flared on Day 2 of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at Adelaide Oval when Mohammed Siraj gave a fiery farewell to Australian batsman Travis Head.
The dramatic moment unfolded after the 30-year-old, who had reached a magnificent 140 off 141 balls, hit Siraj for a six.
In retaliation, Siraj responded with a deadly yorker that hit the Australian batsman off the next ball.
As the left-handed batsman walked back to the dressing room, the furious pacer got into a lively conversation with him, pointing towards the sheds and gesturing for him to leave.
Head, visibly frustrated, responded with some verbal volleys of his own.
The incident led to boos from the crowd, especially after Siraj had taken a difficult catch when Head was on 76.
Speaking after the game, he explained that he praised Siraj for his delivery.
“Well, I said ‘well played’, but he thought otherwise when he showed me the sheds. Yeah, I was a little disappointed with how it played out in some previous innings,” Head said.
“But, yes, that’s what happens if they want to react like that. And that’s how they want to represent themselves and so be it,” he added.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also weighed in on the incident, criticizing Siraj’s reaction.
On Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Unnecessary if you ask me. The man is 140, hasn’t been out for a year or two. You don’t give a send-off to someone who batted brilliantly and won over the crowd. Instead of becoming a hero by dismissing him, Siraj became the villain.”
Gavaskar further noted that if Siraj had simply applauded Head’s innings, he would have won the admiration of the crowd.
“If Siraj had simply applauded Head after that sending off, he would have been a hero to everyone in the stadium. Instead, he took the baton from the crowd, and understandably so,” he added.
Despite the controversy, Head’s brilliant innings of 140 – comprising 17 fours and four sixes – helped Australia post 337 in their first innings.
By the end of the game, the hosts had built a healthy lead of 157 runs and reduced India to 128/5, putting them in a strong position ahead of the third day of the Test.
