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Travis Head says he was disappointed at Mohammed Siraj’s reaction which was also criticised by Sunil Gavaskar.
Mohammed Siraj (right) gave Travis Head quite a send-off. (AP Photo)
During the Day 2 of the second Test between India and Australia, tempers flared when Mohammed Siraj gave Travis Head a fiery send-off that led to loud boos from the Adelaide Oval crowd. Siraj, frustrated at having been smacked for a six by centurion Head, exacted revenge on the next ball when produced a yorker to clean bowled the Aussie batter.
An animated Siraj proceeded to have a heated exchange with Head while gesturing him to start walking back to the Australian dressing room. Head responded with a few verbal volleys of his own.
After the end of the day’s play, Head, who scored a magnificent 140 off 141 to put Australia in the driving seat, revealed that he only praised Siraj for the delivery but the Indian pacer took it differently.
“Well, I said ‘well bowled’, but he thought otherwise when he pointed me to the sheds. Yeah, I was slightly disappointed with the way that transpired with a couple of the past innings,” Head told Fox Cricket. “But, yeah, it is what it is if they want to react like that. And that’s how they want to represent themselves and so be it.”
Siraj had earlier dropped a difficult catch of Head on 76. His action led to the crowd booing him repeatedly.
Later, Sunil Gavaskar too criticised for Siraj’s “unnecessary” reaction.
“Unnecessary, if you ask me. The man’s got 140, he hasn’t got out for one or two. You don’t give a send-off to someone who’s batted brilliantly and won the crowd over. Instead of becoming a hero for dismissing him, Siraj has become the villain,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
“If Siraj had simply applauded Head after that dismissal, he would have been a hero for everyone in the stadium. Instead, he got the stick from the crowd, and understandably so,” he added.
A red-hot Head struck 17 fours and four sixes as Australia were bowled out for 337 in their first innings. The hosts took a good lead of 157 before reducing India to 128/5 by the stumps.
- Location :
Adelaide (Australia)
