Australian cricket great Simon Katich has weighed in on Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head’s sour interaction during the second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide.
The pair faced off after Head was dismissed by the fast bowler after scoring a match-winning knock of 140 from 141 balls on day two.
Siraj shared some choice words and gave Head the flick with his arm raised.
READ MORE: Indian media turns on skipper amid rift with teammate
READ MORE: He’s the hottest name in Aussie sport. Bosses want us to cool it
READ MORE: ‘Comfort zone’ call behind Origin star’s shock defection
The exchange has divided opinion, but Katich wants that behaviour out of the game.
“It wasn’t a great look,” Katich said on SEN Radio on Tuesday.
“It’s a shame that Siraj had a bit of a brain fade … there’s no need for that in the game.”
While the former Test opener can acknowledge that games get heated, he knows that the Indian bowler immediately regretted his actions four off the very next ball.
“He would regret that,” Katich continued.
“It was all spur of the moment and when he got Mitchell Starc out not long after that he was pretty sheepish. It all happens in a split second and it’s hard to control emotions sometimes when you’re upset with what’s just unfolded.
“You don’t know what head space some of the players are in at times. He was probably disappointed with his performance and something like this can happen.”
But the former Australian opening batsman Katich also sent a warning to Head, who notched his third century at Adelaide Oval.
“His innings didn’t deserve to finish that way,” Katich said.
“I think Travis Head reacted to the gesture and you can’t blame him for that, he was pretty upset with what was being directed his way.”
Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for his breach, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal”.
Head was found guilty but won’t be fined and instead docked a single demerit point.
Their potential interactions in the third Test at The Gabba will have plenty of fans tuning in, but Katich is hopeful it won’t cross the line again.
“Hopefully it doesn’t ignite the series,” he said.
“But I dare say given the history of India v Australia in recent times, it’s going to get heated in the next few tests because the series is on the line,” he said.
The third Test begins on Saturday morning in Brisbane.