Former Australian batter and captain Ricky Ponting shared his views on the recent incident between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match in Adelaide. Ponting said the situation arose from a misunderstanding.
The incident took place in the 82nd over of Australia’s first innings. Siraj bowled Head out with a yorker after the Australian batter scored 140 runs, including a six off Siraj on the previous ball.
After Head’s dismissal, there was some heated exchange between the two players. Head reacted before leaving the field to applause from the Adelaide crowd. However, Siraj faced boos from the home crowd, who supported their local player.
Later, in a press conference, Head clarified that Siraj was responding to his “well bowled” comment.
Both players received one demerit point under the ICC Code of Conduct, and Siraj was also fined 20% of his match fee.
Ricky Ponting shared his thoughts on The ICC Review and gave a balanced perspective on the matter.
“Looking back, I think it was all accidental. There was no real malice in what happened,” Ponting said. He believed the initial misunderstanding escalated the situation.
“Siraj’s reaction was instant, which is expected from a fast bowler under pressure. He had taken just one wicket till then and had just been hit for a six,” Ponting added.
Ponting also commented on Rohit Sharma’s role as India’s captain. “Rohit would expect his bowlers to react strongly in such high-pressure situations. When you’re hit for a big shot and then manage to get a wicket, emotions are bound to be high.”
Ponting downplayed the seriousness of the incident but noted Siraj’s send-off towards the Australian dressing room. “As soon as I saw the send-off, I got worried for Siraj. Umpires generally dislike such actions directed at the dressing room.”
Thankfully, both Siraj and Head resolved their differences soon. They were seen chatting during Siraj’s batting and even embraced during the post-match handshakes.
“It was good to see them clearing the misunderstanding. They spoke while Siraj was batting, and both shared their perspectives,” Ponting said.
The series is now tied at 1-1. India won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs, and Australia leveled the series with a 10-wicket victory in the Adelaide day-night Test. The third Test begins on December 14 in Brisbane.
