New Delhi: Ricky Ponting isn’t willing to read too much into Mohammed Siraj’s altercation with Tavis Head in Australia’s 10-wicket win over India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series at Adelaide.
In the day-night Test played with the pink ball, Siraj gave Head a send-off after dismissing him, having taken a beating from the left hander who scored a match-turning 140 runs off 141 balls.
Siraj’s gesture led to a verbal exchange of words between the Indian pacer and Head, who later claimed he had said ‘well bowled’ that was denied by Siraj. Both players were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council for misconduct.
Ponting played down the incident while saying that umpires are very strict on bowlers who give batters send-offs.
“Look, it wasn’t that big a deal. I was in comms (commentary box) at the time. As soon as I saw the send-off, I actually got worried for Siraj,” he told the ICC Review.
“I know how the umpires react to those things. Umpires and referees don’t like seeing the send-off, pointed in the direction of the dressing room.”
Siraj and Head later spoke on the incident on the field when the former came on to bat, which was a matured way of handling things, Ponting said
“Both players have now had their say on what they thought happened. It was great to see them actually chatting,” the former Australia skipper said.
“When Siraj came out to bat and Travis was at short leg, they were actually clarifying what had happened out there. They were talking amongst themselves as to what had actually happened.”
‘No malice in altercation’
Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while Head was reprimanded apart from being handed one demerit point each.
“Looking back at it now, I think it was accidental the way that whole thing played out. I don’t think there was any malice meant at the start,” Ponting said.
“Then the way it started and almost like the misinterpretation of what had actually gone on, I think led to how it ended.”
Siraj gave Head a send-off after dismissing him, having taken a beating from the left hander who scored a match-turning 140 runs off 141 balls Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
