‘I’m going to stand up for myself’: Head says Siraj send-off was out of order
By Tom Decent
Travis Head has criticised Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for giving him a heated send-off and also accused the tourists, including Virat Kohli, of taking things too far during wicket celebrations.
The South Australian continued his magnificent run of scores in Adelaide by belting a third straight Test century at his home ground before receiving a send-off from Siraj that has lit the fuse for the rest of the Border-Gavaskar series.
India’s early ascendancy in the five-Test battle slipped away on a fast-moving Saturday as the tourists ended day two at 5-128 in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 29 runs after Pat Cummins (2-33 from eight overs) and Scott Boland (2-39 from seven) ripped through a wobbly top order.
On a day when Marnus Labuschagne hit his way back into form with a fighting 64 and India’s frustrated bowlers had their worst day of the series, Head brought up his eighth Test hundred and second against India.
His innings of 140 was replete with power and precision. The swashbuckling left-hander brought up triple figures from 111 balls in front of his wife, newborn baby and a crowd that took delight in watching him punish India’s bowlers.
When Head was bowled by Siraj to leave Australia at 7-310, the pair were involved in a heated exchange that sent the Adelaide Oval crowd wild.
Get off: Mohammed Siraj had stern words with Travis Head after the latter was dismissed.Credit: AP
Siraj, who’d just been hit for six, was boisterous in his celebration and stared down the pitch at Head, who said something to India’s opening bowler. Siraj then gestured to the change rooms, which Head and the Adelaide crowd did not appreciate. Boos soon rang out around the ground.
“I actually jokingly said, ‘Well bowled’. Then when he pointed me [towards] the sheds, I had my reaction as well,” Head told reporters.
“I feel like the way I play the game, I would like a better reaction. I was surprised at the reaction ... there was no confrontation leading up to it.
“I felt like it was probably, yeah, a little bit far at the time, and that’s why I’m disappointed in the reaction that I gave back. But I’m also going to stand up for myself. I’d like to think in our team that we wouldn’t do that.
Happy days: Travis Head acknowledges the crowd after his epic knock.Credit: AP
“I feel like if my teammates did the same ... in those circumstances I’d probably call it out, which I did.”
Head said it wasn’t the first time in the series. Replays show that pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Kohli got in Head’s face after he was dismissed for 89 in the second innings in Perth.
“I’ve had conversations with guys this series about that [send-offs],” Head said. “I feel like you can play hard and play fair, but obviously when you’re out, can’t do much about it.
“I think the relationship [between the teams] is really, really good. I think that’s why I’m disappointed with the couple of reactions I’ve got when I’ve been dismissed, that’s all. I’d rather [someone] try and tear shreds off me and then give it to me. But I feel like the lead-up is out of nowhere.”
Sledging a hometown hero was not Siraj’s smartest idea, particularly given he had earlier dropped a difficult high catch that Head hit when he was on 76.
Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting said Siraj could be cited by the match referee after the ugly exchange.
“Siraj wasn’t happy to be clipped over deep backward square for six,” Ponting said on Channel Seven’s coverage. “Have a look at Travis Head’s reaction … it was almost like he [Siraj] lost it halfway down. He might have a bit to answer for there as well. That’s what you call the old-fashioned send-off.
“Umpires and referees don’t see kindly to stuff like that.”
Siraj was heckled as he ran in to bowl to Mitchell Starc on his next delivery after the Head wicket. Perhaps the loudest cheer of the day came when he was immediately clubbed for a boundary.
Head has been the in-form Australian batsman for some time but Labuschagne’s profitable return might be explained by an extra batting session under lights three days earlier against a pink ball away from television cameras.
He spent an extra 25 minutes at training on Wednesday night, when others had finished, getting used to the pink ball under lights.
The hard work paid off on Friday evening and the Saturday sunshine provided a welcome relief for Labuschagne and opener Nathan McSweeney.
Marnus Labuschagne after reaching 50 in Adelaide.Credit: AP
After passing 10 just once in his previous 10 innings, Labuschagne scored just his second Test half-century since January.
McSweeney added just one run to his overnight total before he edged Bumrah behind to Rishabh Pant for 39.
With Steve Smith out for two, edging Bumrah down the leg side, the pressure now leaves Labuschagne and shifts towards the team’s most experienced Test batsman.
Mitch Marsh perished for nine after walking off thinking he’d edged a ball behind off Ashwin when replays showed it missed the bat. Australia were bowled out for 337.
When Boland removed Yashasvi Jaiswal (24) from the first ball of his spell and then found the edge of Kohli’s bat (11), Australia were on track to maintain their perfect pink-ball record in Adelaide.
Starc rammed home that advantage with arguably the ball of the Test that swung into Gill (28) and smashed his middle stump out of the ground before Cummins produced a similar work of beauty to bowl Rohit Sharma for six.
The tables have certainly turned and the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is heating up.
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