A lip reader has revealed the three-word spray Travis Head dealt to Mohammed Siraj during their heated war of words.
Head was the pick of the Aussie batters scoring 140 off 141 runs in a phenomenal innings to help his side bounce back from their demolishing in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series with a 10-wicket victory.
But a huge flashpoint unfolded during Australia‘s first innings after Head was dismissed by Siraj, who took four wickets during the match.
After clipping the pace bowler for six, Siraj hit back, hitting the South Australian batsman’s wicket with a yorker.
Tempers flared as Head walked from his crease, with the Aussie batsman claiming Siraj gave him an unsporting dismissal, alleging the Indian firebrand pointed him to the sheds.
The heated moment was captured on Fox Cricket’s coverage of the match, and the pair appeared to share a few choice words.
A lip reader has revealed the fiery three-word spray Travis Head gave to Mohammed Siraj
Siraj (right) denies that he said anythign to Head, claiming the Aussie batsman had not revealed what he really said to Siraj during his press conference
Head claimed he had mulled over the Indian bowler’s reaction to the wicket and wasn’t happy with how Siraj had responded, but equally spoke of his ‘disappointment’ over his reaction adding ‘It’s not how I would like to play the game’.
According to News.com.au, a lip reader has revealed that Head said: ‘F*** you ****’ as he walked from the field.
It came as some spectators in the stadium chanted the word ‘W*****’ towards Siraj, following the flashpoint.
But it seems the feud between the pair isn’t going to die down quickly, with Siraj claiming the South Australian batsman had ‘lied’ in his press conference after revealing what he had said to Siraj in the middle of the oval.
Head said: ‘I actually joked with him and said ‘well bowled’ and then he pointed me to the sheds,’ Head said.
‘I would like a better reaction (from Siraj). I was surprised at the reaction in terms of the situation of the game.
‘I felt it was probably, yeah, a little bit far at the time.
‘And that is why I am disappointed in the reaction that I gave back, but I am also going to stand up for myself.
Head had claimed he was ‘disappointed’ with his reaction but added that he wanted ‘a better reaction’ from Siraj (right)
Despite the flashpoint, Head went on to score a phenomenal 140 off 141 balls to guide Australia to victory
‘I’d like to think in our team that we wouldn’t do that. It’s not how I would like to play the game, and I feel like my teammates are the same.
‘I can’t speak much for India but, like I said, I am going to call out in certain situations.
‘I feel like you can play hard and play fair, but obviously, when you’re out, you can’t do much about it.
‘I am disappointed with the reaction I had after that, but certainly I am going to stand up for myself.’
Those comments were not well received by Siraj, though, who claimed he hadn’t said anything to Head after claiming his wicket.
‘It was a great battle going on (with Head) and he batted really well. When you get hit for a six on a good ball, it fires you up differently,’ he said to Star Sports Hindi.
‘And when I got him bowled, I only celebrated and he abused me and you saw that on TV too. I only celebrated at the start, I didn’t say anything to him.
‘What he said in the press conference wasn’t right, it’s a lie that he only said: “well bowled’ to me”. It’s there for everyone to see that that’s not what he said to me.
‘We respect everyone, it’s not like we disrespect other players. I respect everybody because cricket is a gentleman’s game, but what he did wasn’t right. I didn’t like it at all.’
Australia and India will re-ignite their feud next Friday at the Gabba.
