Border Gavaskar Trophy is peaking! After having bowled out India for a below-par 18 at Adelaide Oval, Australia earned a 153-run lead on Day 2 before getting dismissed for 337. Travis Head lived up to his reputation of being India's "principal tormentor" by managing 140 runs from 141 balls.
The end of a sensational innings! 🗣️#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kEIlHmgNwT
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2024
The highlight of the day was Head's dismissal. Words were exchanged between the big-hitting Aussie left-hander and Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj who claimed his wicket.
Siraj shouldn't have been aggressive to a superior Australian.
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 7, 2024
Instead he should have said sorry to Travis Head for getting his wicket 🫡pic.twitter.com/I4wmkhKHP2
In the fourth bowl of the 82nd over, Siraj produced a yorker to rattle the in-form batter's stumps. Head couldn't bring his bat down in time to slice the ball away, the telecast showed. Seeing Siraj staring at him, Head responded verbally. Siraj raised his hand -- showing Head to keep batting -- after he stood his ground briefly to respond to the bowler. Travis reacted by using the F-word at Siraj, some users said on X.
I don’t see any problem in Mohammed Siraj celebrating Travis Head’s wicket the way he did.
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) December 7, 2024
Booing Aussies at the stadium should stop being so emotional. Head batted brilliantly but that yorker + send off were also 🔥🔥#INDvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/OF6I79U2CD
The aggression against Head, a local lad, didn't go down very well with the Adelaide crowd who reacted by booing Siraj.
Social media erupted following the development with many Indians backing Siraj. Australians are no saints, most said, while a minority claimed that the fast bowler's aggression was unwarranted. There was no point in sledging a batter who managed a game-changing innings, they opinioned. The other camp maintained that the Baggy Greens show aggressive behaviour in all circumstances and deserve no sympathy.
DSP Sahab Siraj caught Travis head #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/L46Tp5ov5U
— Desi Bhayo (@desi_bhayo88) December 7, 2024
"Siraj shouldn't have been aggressive to a superior Australian. Instead he should have said sorry to Travis Head for getting his wicket," one user joked on X.
India vs Australia Day 2: As it happened during Australian innings
Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the most successful bowlers as Australia were all out for 337 in reply to India's 180. Local hero Head, who was dropped twice, smashed 17 fours and four maximums in his 141-ball knock as the game drifted away from India.
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Bumrah dismissed Pat Cummins off the last ball of the second session while Siraj struck with the first delivery after dinner to get Mitchell Starc, before sending back Scot Boland to end the Australian innings.
The Indian bowlers picked the last five wickets for 55 runs.
