The fresh debacle in the recently concluded Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets. Md. Siraj and Travis Head exchanged heated words that evoked an unnecessary quarrel. Both Siraj and Head received a demerit point for their disciplinary records, and Siraj also received an additional 20% match fee fine for showing dissent.
Siraj was adjudged to have violated Article 2.5 of the ICC code of conduct, which prohibits “using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or provoke aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.”
Meanwhile, Travis Head was adjudged to have violated Article 2.13 of the ICC code of conduct, which prohibits “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire, or match referee during an international match.” According to the ICC’s statement after the match referee’s meeting with both players.
In his defense, Head said that he had playfully shouted “well bowled” to Siraj, to which the bowler “pointed me in the sheds, and I had my reaction as well.” On the other side, Siraj claimed that Travis Head had “abused” him first and that saying “well bowled” was a lie.
“It was a great battle going on (with Head), and he batted really well,” Siraj told Star Sports Hindi before the third day’s play. “When you get hit for a six on a good ball, it fires you up differently. And when I bowled him, I just celebrated, and he abused me, and you saw that on TV too. What he said in the press conference wasn’t right; it’s a lie that he said, ‘Well bowled’ to me.”
Later in the match during India’s second innings, the two were again caught having a quiet conversation when Siraj stepped out to bat, with Head fielding at short leg.
In the post-match meet-up with the match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, both Siraj and Travis Head admitted to their respective violations and sanctions imposed by the match referee; therefore, Mr. Madugalle called off for a formal hearing.
The event occurred in the 82nd over of Australia’s first innings, when Siraj bowled Travis Head and gave him a heated send-off by gesturing towards the Australian dressing room and Head reacted verbally before leaving the field.
