The fiery altercation between Australian batter Travis Head and Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj during the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has sparked intense discussions among the cricket fraternity, with many calling out the latter.
But Australia captain Pat Cummins has downplayed the much-debated incident. The heated moment between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj unfolded after the Australian batter’s impressive knock of 140 runs on Day 2 of the pink-ball Test ended by the Indian pacer at the Adelaide Oval.
Pat Cummins plays down heated Mohammed Siraj-Travis Head altercation in Adelaide Test
After dismissing Travis Head, Mohammed Siraj gave the Australian star a fiery send-off, and it led to an animated exchange between the two players, who were charged with emotion, and the crowd could feel the tension rise. They seemed angry at each other in the heated moment over what had transpired in Adelaide.
However, Pat Cummins has downplayed the incident, as he emphasized that such moments are common in a high-stakes series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Australian skipper acknowledged the intensity of the ongoing five-match Test series, saying emotions are bound to run high in such an environment, especially with packed crowds adding to the pressure.
Cummins also mentioned how the situation was swiftly handled by the umpires, bringing the matter to a quick end. The ace pacer also made it clear that Head, as the vice-captain of the Australian cricket team, is more than capable of handling such confrontations on his own.
India can do whatever they want: Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins said at the post-match press conference: “India can do whatever they want; I’m more worried about my boys. BGT is heated; it is a big series. There have been packed crowds all day, so there’s a lot riding on it. I think the umpire stepped in pretty quickly, and that was the end of it. Travis is vice-captain of the team. He’s a big boy; he can talk for himself.”
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Praising Head for his Player of the Match show in the Day-Night Test match, the Australian skipper noted, “It feels like every time he walks out, the game’s kind of in the balance; it can go one or two ways. He’s done it time and time again for us in many different formats, and, yeah, he’s super impressive.”
Pat Cummins calls Nitish Kumar Reddy a 360-degree player
Cummins also heaped praise on the young Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been impressive so far in the ongoing five-match Test series. Reddy scored 42 runs in each innings during India’s 10-wicket loss to Australia, and the pacer lauded his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate for his impressive batting Down Under.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad captain called Nitish Kumar Reddy a 360-degree player and hailed him for his awesome shot-making. Cummins signed off by saying, “He is a really good player, adapts well. He has some pretty awesome ramp shots and pulls and drives. He is a 360-degree player, and he had another pretty good game.”