Team India has finally issued an official statement on the altercation between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head that got serious during the second day of the Adelaide Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel attended a press conference after Day 2 of the Test match. During the press conference, Morkel defended Siraj by claiming that he gives his 100% with the ball irrespective of the situation.
Morkel further mentioned that such moments will be there in such a big series as both the players play the game in a hard way. The former South African cricketer even claimed that both the players would get along after the match.
Also read: Mohammed Siraj accuses Travis Head of lying blatantly in the Press Conference
Team India issues an official statement on Mohammed Siraj-Travis Head altercation
During the press conference, Morne Morkel lauded Mohammed Siraj’s character for giving his all when he is bowling. He claimed that Siraj gives all his energy irrespective of the game situation.
“Yes, (Mohammed) Siraj is the type of player that gives 100% when ball when ball in hand. And I think that is, you know, the character that he brings to the bowling unit. He will always run in all day no matter what the scoreboard says and I think in a big match like that, you’re always going to have moments like this when it’s a sort of, I wouldn’t say make or break sort if situation, but when a session or a game is potentially on the line,” Morkel stated.
Further speaking on the incident, Morkel predicted that both the players will get along with each other after the game and such a situation only arises when the two players play the game tough.
“We’ll have moments like that and they are two cricketers that play the game hard and play the game tough. But I’m pretty sure that after the game, they’ll be best of mates,” he added.
What was the altercation?
Travis Head was bowled by Mohammed Siraj in the 82nd over of the innings. After picking up the wicket, Siraj gave Head a send-off which the latter didn’t like. As a result, Head replied with a few words.
After the end of the day’s play, Head claimed that he jokingly said “well bowled” to Mohammed Siraj after his wicket but didn’t receive a good response from the India quick. He also expressed his disappointment in the reaction that he gave during that situation.
“It probably (went) a little bit far, that’s why I’m disappointed in the reaction I gave back but I’m also going to stand up for myself. Like to think in our team we wouldn’t do that. (It’s) not the way I’d like to play the game and feel like my teammates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did,” Head told the reporters.
Travis Head takes Australia to a position of dominance
Meanwhile, Travis Head continued his good run against India with another fine knock in Adelaide. The left-handed batter scored a counter-attacking 140 off just 141 balls to take Australia to a position of ascendency.
Australia took a massive first-innings lead on the back of Head’s century and Marnus Labuschagne’s brilliant half-century. In reply, India were reeling in their second innings as Australian bowlers were all over them.