In the aftermath of India’s loss in the Adelaide Test, the altercation between Mohammad Siraj and Travis Head has been garnering more attention. On the second day of the match, after dismissing Head, Siraj celebrated aggressively, which seemed to upset the Australian batsman, who exchanged some words with him.
In response, Siraj gestured for Head to leave. Both players have since commented on the incident. According to reports from Australian media, PTI has stated that both players could be found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct for their altercation, and they are likely to face punishment.
Reports from The Daily Telegraph and Code Sports mention that after a disciplinary hearing on Monday, both Siraj and Head were found guilty. However, due to their good previous records, they are expected to face a fine or a reprimand instead of suspension.
What Happened?
Siraj claimed the seventh wicket for Australia when Head was bowled out after failing to read Siraj’s yorker. Head, who had played a brilliant innings of 140 runs from 141 balls, including 17 fours and four sixes, was dismissed. Following the dismissal, Siraj displayed aggressive celebration, which seemed to irk Head as he muttered something while walking back to the pavilion. This led to a brief exchange of words between the two, creating a tense atmosphere for a few seconds. A video of the incident went viral on social media.
Head’s Statement
Head commented on the incident saying, “I told him it was a good ball. But he seemed to think otherwise and signaled for me to leave. I was a bit disappointed with how things went in the last few innings. But if they want to react this way, so be it. If they want to carry on like that, then that’s how it will be.”
Siraj’s Response
In contrast, Siraj claimed that Head was lying about the incident. He said, “I enjoyed bowling to Head. It was a good contest because he batted really well. When a batsman hits you for a good shot, it stings. That gave me some energy. After getting him out, I celebrated. Then he started abusing me. You can even see it on TV. Initially, I was just celebrating. I didn’t say anything to him. In the press conference, he lied. He gave a false statement. We respect everyone, and I always show respect because cricket is a gentleman’s game. Travis Head’s actions were wrong. I didn’t feel good about it.”