As the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia heats up, Jeff Thomson is calling for the intensity to stay high and the competition to remain fierce, as the Australian pace legend reacted to the Mohammed Siraj-Travis Head spat in Adelaide.
With the next three Test matches of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 promising to be intense and thrilling, Jeff Thomson doesn’t want to see any reduction in the spice that has already made the India versus Australia Test series one of the most thrilling in recent years.
Jeff Thomson urges no softening of rivalry as Test series heats up
The Aussie legend has insisted that the fans deserve a full-throttle contest, not a cold one where players get too friendly with each other. Thomson also noted that cricket fans expect fireworks, not friendly banter, when the two rivals take the field, especially in such a high-octane series.
Read Also: Rohit Sharma shown Jasprit Bumrah mirror as captaincy debate heats up
In a bold statement, Jeff Thomson said that the Adelaide Test was a perfect treat for the fans, where Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj shared some heated words after the Indian pacer’s aggressive send-off after dismissing the Australian batter in the Day-Night Test.
With the controversy slowing down, the fiery exchange left many questioning the spirit of cricket, with some arguing that Travis Head deserved more respect from Siraj after scoring match-winning 140 runs in the second Test of the ongoing five-match Test series against India.
Jeff Thomson says he would not want to see Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj being ‘matey’
However, Thomson stressed that the fans didn’t pay their hard-earned money to see players act too buddy-buddy on the field. The former Australian pacer also pointed out that such clashes of personalities add a genuine spark to the game.
Jeff Thomson was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph: “I would rather see that (showdown in Adelaide) than batsmen joking with bowlers. At least you know they are playing seriously. People who pay their money don’t want to see them being matey. They want it full-on.”
Meanwhile, former Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz shared his thoughts on the recent Adelaide drama by saying that the emotion shown by players like Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head should not be taken away from the game.
Michael Kasprowicz defends Mohammed Siraj’s emotional outburst in Adelaide
However, Kasprowicz admitted that rules must be followed, but the fans are closer than ever to the action and understand what’s happening on the field. He suggested that players should be allowed to express themselves, as long as it doesn’t go too far. The former Australian pacer also stressed that celebrating a wicket is a natural reaction for young fast bowlers.
Michael Kasprowicz told The Daily Telegraph: “I grew up watching Dennis Lillee showing that emotion, and you don’t want to take that away from the game. To me, it didn’t seem like much at all. I know rules are rules, but at the same time, the spectator has never been closer to the action, and they pick up everything. Just let them go. No one was hurt. No one was injured. I’m not saying carry on like a pork chop, but he was a young fast bowler celebrating a wicket.”