"There was no confrontation leading up to it" - Travis Head surprised by Mohammed Siraj's fiery send-off on Day 2 of 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Australian batter Travis Head expressed surprise at the send-off he received from Mohammed Siraj after being dismissed for 140 on Day 2 of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide on Saturday, December 7. The left-hander pointed out that there was no confrontation between him and Siraj ahead of the dismissal and hence he felt that the Indian fast bowler's reaction was unwarranted.
As he has often done over the last couple of years, Head proved to be India's nemesis on Day 2 of the day-night Test. The southpaw hammered 140 off 141 balls, slamming 17 fours and four sixes as Australia posted 337 in their first innings in response to India's 180.
Head's excellent knock came to an end when he was castled by a yorker from Siraj, who gave the Australian batter a send-off. The centurion also gave it back to the bowler as he walked off.
The Australian cricketer told Fox Cricket about the incident:
"I said, 'well bowled,' but he thought otherwise when he pointed me towards the sheds. He got a little bite back from me."
Speaking at the press conference following the end of the second day's play, the 30-year-old elaborated on the incident. He said he was disappointed with how things played out, especially because there was no confrontation between him and Siraj leading up to the dismissal.
Head commented (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo):
"I don't want to give it too much airtime. I feel like the way I play the game I would like a better reaction. I was surprised at the reaction in terms of the situation of the game and the lead up. There was no confrontation leading up to it."
"It probably [went] a little bit far, that's why I'm disappointed in the reaction I gave back but I'm also going to stand up for myself. Like to think in our team we wouldn't do that. [It's] not the way I'd like to play the game and feel like my team-mates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did," Head went on to add.
The left-handed batter also revisited his second-innings dismissal in Perth and stated that he was not too happy with how India's players reacted after he was out for 89. The Aussie cricketer commented:
"There's been conversations I've had. I'll leave those conversations that I've had with individuals around that. Can't speak much for India, like I said I'm going to call it out in certain situations. Feel like you can play hard and play fair. When you are out you can't do much about it. I'm disappointed with the reaction I had after that, but certainly going to stand up for myself."
Despite his face-off with Siraj on Saturday, Head asserted that the relationship between the two teams is really good, adding that the Australian team has a lot of respect for the Indian team and its talent.
"Siraj is the type of player that gives 100% when ball in hand" - Morne Morkel defends Indian pacer
Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel defended Siraj over his altercation with Head on Day 2 of the pink-ball Test. Describing the Indian pacer as someone who gives his 100 percent with the ball in hand, the former Proteas fast bowler downplayed the send-off Siraj gave to Head.
"Siraj is the type of player that gives 100% when ball in hand. I think that is the character that he brings to the bowling unit. He will always run in all day, no matter what the scoreboard says," Morkel said.
"I think in a big series like that you are always going to have moments like this where it is a sort of, I wouldn't say make or break sort of situation, but when a session or the game is potentially sort of on the line, you will have moments like that and they are two cricketers that play the game hard, they play the game tough but I am pretty sure after the game they will be your best of mates," the 40-year-old added.
Siraj ended the innings with figures of 4-98 from 24.3 overs. Meanwhile, India went to stumps on Day 2 at 128-5, trailing Australia by 29 runs.