Travis Head was the Player of the Match in Australia’s big 10-wicket win over India in the second BGT 2024 Test in Adelaide. While his century was the catalyst for Australia’s win in the pink-ball Test, his verbal confrontation on day 2 with India pacer Mohammed Siraj stole the limelight.
Head was clean bowled for 140 in 141 balls by Siraj with a yorker and as Head was going on his way to the pavilion, Siraj gave him a fiery sendoff and the two exchanged some words as well.
The Australian hitter conceded that his confrontation with Siraj went a bit too far on Saturday, but also claimed that he applauded the Indian pacer's bowling, although playfully.
However, Siraj later refuted Head's claims, claiming that the Adelaide Test centurion did not remark "well bowled" and lied about the incident during the press conference following the second day's play.
A war of words threatened to erupt after both players were asked about the incident after play, but Head told ABC Sport the pair cleared things up when Siraj came out to bat on day three.
The pair had a cordial exchange when Siraj came out to bat on day three, with Head at short leg clarifying his comments further, before taking the catch to dismiss Siraj and end India's innings.
"Sweet with it. He came out and just said [it was] a little bit of misunderstanding … I think we'll move on. We've had a great week, so let's not let it ruin it," Head said.
"It was fine. He said, 'Why'd you swear?' I sort of said, 'Look, I didn't at first … [but] I definitely swore at you the second time round. I probably could have laughed it off and walked off and enjoyed myself. He just said it was a misunderstanding as well, and there was no issues for me. We move on. I'm sweet. It is what it is,” Head added.
It should settle things down following day two when Head told Fox Cricket that he had been "disappointed" by the Indian quick's performance in a couple of innings and aadmittedhe was unhappy with his own reaction.
"I was surprised at the reaction in terms of the situation of the game. There was no confrontation leading up to it and I felt like it was probably a little bit far at the time. I'm disappointed in the reaction that I gave back, but I'm also going to stand up for myself,” Head had said.
Siraj was asked about Head's comments and did not appreciate the South Australian's framing of the altercation.
"I only celebrated at the start. I didn't say anything to him. What he said in the press conference wasn't right. It's a lie that he only said, 'Well bowled,' to me. It's there for everyone to see that that's not what he said to me. We respect everyone. It's not like we disrespect other players. I respect everybody because cricket is a gentleman's game, but what he did wasn't right. I didn't like it at all,” Siraj told Harbhajan Singh in Hindi on Star Sports.
