Star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was observed delivering a fiery send-off to Australian middle-order batter Travis Head on Saturday (December 7). Head was dismissed by Siraj on the fourth delivery of the 82nd over of Australia’s first innings, with the pacemaker breaching Head’s defense and uprooting his stumps. Following the dismissal, the two exchanged words, with Siraj subsequently offering a heated send-off. While both players have their accounts of the incident, a report suggests that Siraj and Head are likely to face disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their conduct.
Before heading back to the pavilion, Head faced 141 balls and, with the aid of 17 boundaries and 4 sixes, scored a total of 140 runs. He shared a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Marnus Labuschagne (64) and a 74-run stand for the sixth wicket with Alex Carey (15). Head brought up his century in 111 balls and followed it with a heartfelt celebration to pay tribute to the birth of his second child.
It was the third ton for Head in the pink-ball test, he broke his record of the fastest century in Day-Night Tests, only Marnus Labuschagne has scored more centuries in day-night Tests than him.
There was a bit happening here between Head and Siraj after the wicket 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/f4k9YUVD2k
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 7, 2024
Travis Head’s response to the incident.
“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 teammates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did,” Head stated during the press conference.
Mohammed Siraj’s comments on the incident.
“When you get hit for a six on a good ball, it fires you up differently. And when I got him bowled, I only celebrated, and he abused me, and you saw that on TV, too,” he told Star Sports. “I only celebrated at the start; I didn’t say anything to him. What he said in the press conference wasn’t right, it’s a lie that he only said ‘well bowled’ to me. It’s there for everyone to see that that’s not what he said to me. We respect everyone; it’s not like we disrespect other players. I respect everybody because cricket is a gentleman’s game, but what he did wasn’t right. I didn’t like it at all.”
When Siraj took to the crease on Day 3 of the pink-ball Test, he and Head had a short exchange in the middle about the incident, during which it appeared that the issue was resolved, following the conclusion of the match, the two also shared a hug, which was warmly received by fans on social media.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
