Travis Head on Mohammed Siraj's send-off: 'Jokingly said well bowled, then he pointed me to the sheds'

Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj were involved in a heated argument after the Australian batter was clean bowled by the Indian pacer on Day 2 of the ongoing pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Head, who scored 140 off just 141 and helped Australia make 337 in reply to India’s first innings total of 180, was seen passing a comment after being dismissed followed by Siraj giving him a send-off.

In the post-match press conference, Head said that he was only trying to compliment Siraj which the bowler misunderstood and it’s not the way he wants to play his cricket.

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“I actually jokingly said ‘well bowled’, then he pointed me in the sheds and I had my reaction as well,” Head said. “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 teammates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did.”

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There was a bit happening here between Head and Siraj after the wicket 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/f4k9YUVD2k

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 7, 2024

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Head added that he was disappointed to see such reactions from the Indian team but maintained that the relationship between the two teams is quite friendly.

“I think the relationship is really, really good,” head said. “Think that’s why I’m disappointed with a couple of reactions I’ve got when being dismissed. Feel like the game’s moved on. The way I play the game is, I’m here to have a good time, want to enjoy myself, want to play hard and play fair. I have a joke with the fielders, always interacting, and it’s been on very simple terms and enjoyable. I know they are competing hard, but I can have a laugh at the same time.

“Then to get the reaction I did off the back of that, I’d almost have it the other way, rather they try to tear shreds off me then give it to me. But feel like the lead-up is out of nowhere. Both teams respect each other, I hope. Our dressing room definitely has a lot of respect for the opposition and the blokes in that dressing are very high quality.”

Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel defended Siraj and said that such moments in a big series are not out of place.

“Siraj is the type of player that gives 100% when ball in hand,” Morkel said. “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. 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.”

Siraj, who was booed by the Australian fans in the stands at Adelaide on Saturday, took four wickets for 98 in the end. India were 128/5 at the Stumps, 29 runs behind Australia.