Mohammed Siraj and Head fined for their Adelaide altercation in the 1st innings after the latter’s dismissal.
Mohammed Siraj has been fined 20% of his match fees while Travis Head has been reprimanded following their altercation during the second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide.
Additionally, Siraj and Head’s disciplinary records were updated with one demerit point. For both players, this was their first offence in the previous 24 months.
When Siraj bowled Head in the 82nd over of Australia’s opening innings, he gave him a lively farewell by pointing to the Australia changing room. The on-field umpires spoke with Siraj as well, and Head verbally replied before leaving the ground.
According to the ICC statement. Siraj was found to have breached article 2.5 of the ICC code of conduct, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.” Head, meanwhile, was found to have breached article 2.13 of ICC’s code of conduct. This relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.”
Third umpire Richard Kettleborough, fourth umpire Phillip Gillespie, and on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth all made the accusations.
Head later claimed that he had jokingly shouted “well bowled” to Siraj. After which the bowler “pointed me in the sheds and I had my reaction as well.” Head scored 140 off 141 and was a major contributor to Australia’s decisive ten-wicket victory in three days.
However, Siraj then asserted that Head had “abused” him initially and that his statement that he was “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.”
Both Siraj and Head admitted to their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Ranjan Madugalle and there was no need for a formal hearing.