ICC Punishes Siraj, Head for Heated Exchange in Adelaide Test

Mon Dec 09 2024
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ADELAIDE, Australia: India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australia batsman Travis Head were both charged with misconduct Monday following a fiery exchange that took place during the second Test in Adelaide.

Siraj was fined 20 percent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council after he gave Head a send-off after bowling the Australian for 140 in the hosts’ first innings.

He admitted a charge of “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal”.

Siraj received one demerit point, as did Head who was sanctioned for his reaction.

Head’s charge related to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee”.

According to an ICC statement, Siraj has been penalised 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.”

On the other hand, Head too was sanctioned for breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.”

A verbal exchange followed Siraj’s dismissal of Head after the bowler pointed in the direction of the Australia dressing room.

Both players admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle.

On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Phillip Gillespie levelled the charges.

Notably, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Mohammed Siraj gave a fiery send-off to Travis Head, who struck a sensational century in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. The incident took place in the 82nd over when Siraj bowled Head with a low full toss after he’d been whipped over the leg side for six.

After dismissing the attacking batter, the Indian pacer celebrated animatedly and appeared to exchange a few words and gestured Head towards the direction of the dressing room. The duo eventually reconciled on the field when Siraj came out to bat during India’s second innings.

When it comes to the result, Australia secured a commanding 10-wicket victory in the day-night Test to level the five-match series 1-1. 

Australia won the day-night match by 10 wickets to level the five-Test series at 1-1.

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