New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, December 9, issued sanctions after a spat between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head on the field during the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. Siraj was fined 20 percent of his match fee, while Head escaped a financial penalty but was given a sanction for his verbal exchange with the Indian pacer.
Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head were each given one demerit point for violating the ICC Code of Conduct in their heated exchange during the second Test, which Australia won by 10 wickets on Sunday, adding an extra layer of drama to the contest.
“Siraj has been penalised 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Head too was sanctioned for breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the ‘abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match’.” it added.
Fortunately, both players avoided suspension, as this was their first offense in the past 24 months.
“Siraj and Head received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records, marking their first offence within the last 24 months,” the ICC said.
Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head were involved in a heated on-field exchange after the Indian pacer delivered an expletive-laden sendoff to the Australian batter. Head had smashed Siraj for a six, but the bowler had the last laugh by dismissing him with a pinpoint yorker on the very next delivery that ended Head’s innings at 140.
Unfazed by the send-off, Travis Head retaliated with a war of words against Mohammed Siraj and escalated the incident. The Adelaide Oval crowd, not pleased with their hometown hero being targeted, retaliated by booing the Indian pacer relentlessly.
Despite their on-field spat, Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head hugged it out at the end of the second Test and moved on. However, that was after both men gave their version of events in different accounts.
After his match-winning knock of 140, Travis Head addressed the media, saying that Mohammed Siraj had misinterpreted a compliment during their exchange and expressed his displeasure with the pacer’s send-off.
However, Siraj hit back, accusing Head of lying.
“I was enjoying bowling to him. It was a good battle because he batted really well. When a batter hits you for a six on a good ball, it feels bad. That gave me an energy. After bowling him out, I celebrated. Then he abused me. You can see on TV as well. In the start, it was my celebration. I didn’t say anything to him. In the press conference, he said wrong thing. He lied. Noway he said well-bowled,” Siraj said.
Travis Head brought closure to the incident during his post-match interview with broadcasters, admitting that he had sworn back at Mohammed Siraj during their exchange. However, he revealed that the two had a conversation afterward and mutually agreed to leave the spat behind in Adelaide.
With the series leveled at 1-1, India and Australia will meet in the third Test, starting December 14 at the Gabba in Brisbane.
