The Australian all-rounder Travis Head got a significant breakthrough on the last day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), continuing to be a problem for India with the bat and the ball. Head's eccentric celebration after dismissing India's Rishabh Pant in the final session became the focus of the cricket community. With Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal bolstering their prospects for a draw, India was at 112 for 3 after tea. However, Head, who captain Pat Cummins trusted with the ball, lured Pant into a long-on aerial pull shot, which Mitchell Marsh caught securely and it set the stage for a collapse.
Then came Head's special celebration, pointing one finger into his other hand, that was forming a circle shape. At first, many criticised the celebration before Cummins and the broadcaster explained it
Pat Cummins explains celebration
Pat Cummins explained the celebration in the press conference and said, "Oh, sorry! Yes, okay! I can explain that. His finger is so hot, that he is going to put it in a cup of ice. Yes, that’s what it is. That’s normally the running joke. Was it at the Gabba or somewhere, where he got a wicket as well and just got straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of Lyno (Nathan Lyon). Just like that, thinks its very funny. So that’s what it would have been, nothing else."
"Now, great people in the back have said after he took 4-10 within 17 balls in Sri Lanka in 2022 he was quoted as saying, 'I had to put the digit on ice'. So that was the celebration. He said 'I just got him, and I'm putting it back on ice'," Channel 7's James Brayshaw said earlier explaining the celebration
Navjot Singh Sidhu demands punishment for Head
The former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was extremely unimpressed with the celebration and called it obnoxious behaviour. He also demanded strict punishment for Head as he believed it was not an insult to an individual but a whole nation of 1.5 billion people. He also stated that it sets wrong example in front of kids and women watching the game.
"Travis head’s obnoxious behaviour during the course of the Melbourne test doesn’t auger well for for the gentleman’s game…… sets the worst possible example when there are kids, women , young & old watching the game……. this caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation of 1.5 billion Indians……stringent punishment that would serve a deterrent for the future generations needs to be slapped on him so that no one dares follow suit," Sidhu wrote on X formerly known as Twitter.
Australia won the Boxing Day Test by 184 runs and now will be heading to Sydney for the New Year Test with a 2-1 lead. They have a big chance of winning this series and seal the spot in the Final of the World Test Championship.