“Hey, just calm it down a little bit” - David Warner slams Mohammed Siraj for riling up Aussie bowlers in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Former Australia opener David Warner slammed Mohammed Siraj for his ultra-aggression act while bowling in the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Adelaide Oval. The right-arm pacer was involved in verbal battles against Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head across the first two days of the contest, and continued his theatrics against the Australian lower order as well.
Siraj's acts of aggression included throwing the ball back at Labuschagne when the latter pulled away at the last minute, and a verbal barrage to Head after his dismissal for 140 in the second session. The pacer earned the wrath of the crowd, who relentlessly booed him for the remainder of the innings.
Warner opined that Siraj's theatrics could serve as motivation for the Australian bowlers, and felt that the batters should have a word with him for their own sake.
“130 behind – I think your batters might want to go ‘hey, just calm it down a little bit. We’ve got to go out there soon potentially in the hardest conditions and that ball still looks like it’s doing a bit off the wicket and it’s swinging a tad. So just calm down," Warner said on-air on Day 2 (via Fox Sports).
Siraj dismissed Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to wrap up the innings. His bowling figures read 4-98 after running in hard for 24.3 overs.
"Setting the tone for the rest of the series. I’m loving it" - David Warner on Mohammed Siraj
Warner has had first-hand experience of Siraj's aggression in the past. The pair were involved in an altercation during a clash between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL).
It was under Warner's captaincy that Siraj made his IPL debut for the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2017 season.
The Australian remarked that the bowler's antics have set the tone for the second half of the series.
"Don’t think we can repeat that one! Look at the aggression! Setting the tone for the rest of the series. I’m loving it," Warner remarked.
The Australian bowlers have struck twice with the new pink ball under the lights. Both Indian openers are back in the hut inside the first 10 overs of the innings.