New Delhi: Team India is on the backfoot at the end of the second day of the Pink-Ball Test being played in Adelaide against hosts Australia. On the second day, while Travis Head’s super century was in the news, his clash with Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj after the left-handed batsman was out also made equal headlines. On this, Sunil Gavaskar has described the strong farewell given by Mohammed Siraj to Australian batsman Travis Head as “unnecessary”.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar expressed his disagreement with Siraj’s actions, emphasizing the context of Head’s innings. The legendary batsman highlighted that Head played a brilliant innings, becoming a local hero with his eighth Test century and second against India and Siraj’s over-enthusiastic celebration was inappropriate.
Travis Head has his say after the Mohammed Siraj altercation.
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Gavaskar said, “If you ask me, it is unnecessary. The guy has scored 140 runs, he has not been out for one or two runs. You don’t send off someone who has batted brilliantly and won the hearts of the crowd. Instead of becoming a hero for getting him out, Siraj has become a villain.” He suggested that Siraj’s actions cost him the chance to win the respect of the local crowd, Sunny said, “If Siraj had just clapped after that dismissal, he would have been a hero for everyone in the stadium. Instead, he got criticism from the crowd and that is understandable.”
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden also gave his opinion on this. He attributed Siraj’s actions to emotions running high in the heat of the match, while Hayden defended Siraj’s intensity as a bowler. He stressed the need for decency in such situations.
The end of a sensational innings!
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Hayden commented, “It was probably a bit of emotion and passion from Siraj, who bowled with all his heart, but when you are facing a local hero who has just scored 140, you need to show a bit of humility.” Hayden praised Head’s innings, calling it a masterclass of controlled aggression and said that Siraj missed an opportunity to show sportsmanship on the big stage.
Travis Head’s innings was the backbone of Australia’s 337 runs in the first innings. The left-handed batsman hit 17 fours and four sixes in his 140-run innings off 141 balls and entertained the Adelaide crowd by counterattacking. On the second day, Siraj performed impressively with figures of 4-98. He was well supported by Jasprit Bumrah, who took 4 wickets for 61 runs.
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