Adelaide. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has described Mohammed Siraj's rousing farewell to Australian batsman Travis Head as “unnecessary” after the fast bowler dismissed him for 140 on the second day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, expressed his disagreement over Siraj's actions, emphasizing the context of Head's innings. The veteran batsman highlighted that Head played a brilliant innings, becoming a local hero with his eighth Test century and second against India, and that Siraj's overexuberant celebration was inappropriate.
Gavaskar said, “If you ask me, it is unnecessary. The guy has scored 140 runs, he has not been out on one or two runs. You don't bid farewell to someone who has batted brilliantly and won the hearts of the audience. Instead of becoming the hero for getting him out, Siraj has become the villain.'' He suggested that Siraj's actions cost him the chance to win the respect of the local audience.
“If Siraj had just applauded after that dismissal, he would have been a hero to everyone present in the stadium. Instead, she received criticism from the audience, and that's understandable.”
Former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden also expressed his opinion on this, blaming Siraj's actions on the high of emotions in the heat of the match. While Hayden defended Siraj's intensity as a bowler, he stressed the need for complacency in such situations.
Hayden commented, “It was probably a bit of emotion and passion from Siraj, who bowled with all his heart. But when you're facing a local hero who has just scored 140, you need to show some humility.”
Hayden praised Head's innings, calling it a masterclass of controlled aggression and said that Siraj missed the opportunity to show sportsmanship on the big stage.
Travis Head's innings was the backbone of Australia's 337 runs in the first innings. This lefthanded batsman hit 17 fours and four sixes in his innings of 140 runs in 141 balls and while counterattacking, he entertained the spectators present in Adelaide a lot.
While all the focus was on the Sirajhead incident, the Indian fast bowler performed impressively with figures of 498. Their pace bowling rattled Australia's lower order and was well supported by Jasprit Bumrah, who took figures of 461.
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.