India pacer Mohammed Siraj has responded to Australia batter Travis Head's allegations in the press conference after Day 2's play at Adelaide Oval. Siraj falsified Head's statement and said that he was just celebrating his wicket and it was the latter who used absuive language while walking back to the dressing room.
"I enjoyed bowling a lot here. They were batting really well and when they hit the good balls for boundaries, you can’t help. Whatever you saw on TV, i didn’t say anything in disrespect. It was just part of my celebration," Siraj told former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh on Star Sports before the start of Day 3's play.
"Whatever he said in the press conference, it wasn’t true. He never said “well bowled”. We respect each other and cricket is a gentleman’s game. I didn’t feel right to me (Head's comments in the media)," he added.
What happened on Day 2?
The incident took place in the 82nd over of Australia's innings. Siraj bowled his first over with the new ball. Head hit him for a four and a six. Siraj followed it up with a yorker which crashed into the stumps. The southpaw departed after scoring 140 runs from 141 balls. There was a bit happening here between Head and Siraj after the wicket 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/f4k9YUVD2k
Siraj celebrated his wicket and looked into Head's eyes. The batter claimed that he told Siraj "well bowled". Then Siraj gestured him to leave the field and go to the dressing room. Head had a response to Siraj's gesture as well.
What Head said in the press conference?
"I actually jokingly said 'well bowled', then he pointed me in the sheds and I had my reaction as well," Head said after the day's play. "I don't want to give it too much airtime. I feel like the way I play the game I would like a better reaction. I was surprised at the reaction in terms of the situation of the game and the lead up. There was no confrontation leading up to it.
"It probably [went] a little bit far, that's why I'm disappointed in the reaction I gave back but I'm also going to stand up for myself. Like to think in our team we wouldn't do that. [It's] not the way I'd like to play the game and feel like my team-mates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did."
