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Matthew Hayden feels Mohammed Siraj may have misunderstood Travis Head in the heat of the battle.
Travis Head (left) and Mohammed Siraj were involved in a heated exchange. (AP Photo)
Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj was involved in a heated exchange with Australian batter Travis Head during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Later, Head claimed he had said “well bowled” to Siraj after being dismissed.
Siraj suggested Head did not make any such comment.
Australia batting legend Matthew Hayden though sided Head on his claim but felt Siraj might not have been able to decipher it correctly given the situation.
“There is no need to take further action on that. It was an incident that neither party enjoyed. I don’t think the cricket public enjoys that sort of reaction. He has bowled a wonderful ball, let’s not forget that. An innings that was superb, it was a significant moment. The removal of Travis Head,” Hayden said.
“He said ‘well bowled’. I could lip-read. I suppose, in the heat of the battle, there is always going to be misinterpretation. But the point is, in my opinion, all is fair in love and war, especially when it comes to the dismissal of the batter,” Matthew he added.
Siraj clean bowled Head right after the Australian smacked him for a big six on the second day of the pink ball Test in Adelaide following which the two had a go at each other.
Later, the International Cricket Council (ICC) held both the players guilty of breaching its Code of Conduct. Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and Head was reprimanded. Both the players were handed a demerit point each on their disciplinary records.
The five-match series is currently locked at one-all. India won the series opener by 295 runs to take 1-0 lead before Australia bounced back in style to win the Adelaide Test by 10 wickets.
The third Test starts from Saturday in Brisbane.
- Location :
Adelaide (Australia)
