This could be the hottest rivalry as announced by the official broadcasters. And Mohammad Siraj started the day on Indian TV saying Travis Head didn’t call him ‘good bold’. But a day after Head joked at a press conference that he had called Siraj a ‘good bowler’ after returning Siraj for 140, the winning batsman and India’s nemesis said his beef with Siraj had been cleared up.
The hottest rivalry, for sure. But a very serious grudge between two highly talented cricketers, the obligatory Harbhajan Singh and the pantomime Australian booing crowd threw into cacophony.
“He came out and said it was a little misunderstanding … I think we’re going to move on, we have a good week, so let’s not ruin it … I’m sweet, and I think he’s the same, and we’re going to Let’s grow,” Head told Australian Broadcasting Corporation audio. Siraj has neither confirmed nor denied. oral
It must be remembered that Head turned the game on its head by scoring almost 140 runs a ball. Siraj, who bends his back like a skilled workhorse, finally catches Head and gives him a royal farewell, after which Head mutters something. To him, which is still a matter of ‘he said, no’ debate. India was defeated by 10 wickets in the Adelaide Test.
In the morning, Head and Siraj were seen having a conversation when the Indians came in to bat and Head was at short leg. Both the run and bag wicket takers were never particularly suited to strike, with both feisty hard-working characters, but the second day saw the needle bite.
Australian captain Pat Cummins later told the ABC, “Head loves batting here. His innings was a momentum shift. The game could have gone either way when he came out and he took it out of their hands.
Seeing the back of India’s head may have prompted Siraj to react so happily. When India batted, their top order leveled off, and Siraj came out to bat, he was greeted with a boost. But after Steve Smith dropped the catch, Indian Express man on the field Sriram Veera reported, “After dropping that catch, Smith picked up the ball and threw it to Travis Head at short-leg. Siraj had not seen the throw coming and was walking towards it, when Head alerted him to the ball.” Stopped and collected.
The two were later shown in a Channel 7 clip chatting over their shoulders, pointing to the sky. I don’t know what was discussed – weather, drone cameras in the sky or clearing up misunderstandings. But Head said, ‘Everything was sweet..’
The ABC blog noted: “As the two teams walked past each other, shaking hands, Travis Head and Mohamed Siraj were the awkward man, hugging the man who tapped him on the shoulder.”
The chief claimed that they had moved on. Siraj’s reply is awaited. As far as Brisbane and Gabbatoir, that is.