“I said, ‘Well bowled,’ but he thought otherwise" - Travis Head on exchange with Mohammed Siraj on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Travis Head shared his disappointment following fans' reaction to an exchange between him and Mohammed Siraj on Day 2 of the second Test between India and Australia in Adelaide on Saturday, December 8. The reaction came after Siraj gave him a send-off after cleaning him up with a corker following a six off his previous delivery.
Siraj hurled a few words at Head, who got angry and replied "F*** off." The on-field exchange led to Siraj getting booed by the fans at the venue.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Travis Head said he only praised Siraj for his terrific delivery that got him out. The southpaw added the pacer misunderstood him and was all over him.
“I said, ‘Well bowled,’ but he thought otherwise when he pointed me towards the sheds. He got a little bite back from me,” Head recalled at stumps.
“Slightly disappointed with the way that transpired. It is what it is. If they want to react like that, and if that’s how they want to represent themselves, then so be it," he added.
In the same contest, Mohammed Siraj lost his cool at Marnus Labuschagne, who was distracted by the movements near the sight screen while bowling at him.
"The guy has scored 140!" - Sunil Gavaskar unhappy with Mohammed Siraj's gesture
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment at Mohammed Siraj's reaction to Head. He said that his act made him a villain among local fans. The cricketer-turned-commentator said on-air (via The Times of India):
"The guy has scored 140! If he had scored one or two, and you give him a send-off, that's a completely different thing."
"He is a local hero. By giving Head a send-off, Siraj became the villain for the crowd. Had he applauded his century, he would have been appreciated," he added.
Meanwhile, ex-Aussie batter Matthew Hayden asked Siraj to be humble. He said during the same conversation:
"You should know how to be humble."
Travis Head scored 140 runs off 141 balls, a knock laced with four sixes and 17 boundaries. His knock helped the Aussies take a 157-run first-innings lead.
Meanwhile, Siraj bagged a four-wicket haul as India bundled out Australia for 337 in the first innings. At stumps on Day 2, the tourists were 128/5, with Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy at the crease. They are trailing by 39 runs.
India, however, are leading the five-game series 1-0 after registering a 295-run victory over Australia in Perth.