Tempers threatened to heat up at Adelaide Oval after star Travis Head received a violent dismissal from India rival Mohammed Siraj.
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Siraj, who dropped a head in the 70s last Saturday, gave the Australian a bite as he left the crease for a well-earned 140.
The Indians star could be seen gesturing aggressively towards the stands while telling Head to “get off”.
As a result, Siraj was widely booed by the Adelaide crowd as Head’s loyal home crowd stood up to acknowledge the Aussie’s knock.
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“Don’t think we can repeat that!” Fox Cricket’s David Warner spoke about Siraj sending the play.
“Look at the aggression!
“It sets the tone for the rest of the series. I love it.”
Siraj earlier hit four and a six in the over before getting one through Head.
Replays showed that the Australian hero was not pleased with the red card he received.
“It adds a little spice,” said commentator Harsha Bhogle.
“It could have been said the other way around.
“I think there were two people in the game.”
Commentator Kerry O’Keeffe did not think Siraj warranted a dismissal, considering the innings Head had played. He later described the India star’s behavior as “a vicious performance”.
“I don’t know if a man’s ejection is valid when he scores 140!” he said
“Isn’t he a proud competitor Siraj?
“He was threatening to do this throughout the first Test.
“The referee could have said something (about his behavior).
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“The two competitors are having a real rift with each other. Considering Siraj has a Head of 140, I’m not sure he has much ground.
“But he likes to participate in competitions, like Mohammed Siraj.”
Siraj is no stranger to controversy in Australia after being targeted by a crowd in Sydney during India’s last Test tour.
Siraj was forced to stop playing in the 2021 Test match after he claimed he was racially abused.
After the chief was sacked on Saturday, Siraj has once again cemented himself as public number one in a move that could backfire on this Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, Warner warned.
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“There was quite a bit of talk there,” he said.
“There’s a flow to it too. There’s still the Gabba, Sydney and Melbourne (to be tested).
“He had problems last time.
“That’s what happens in Australia. If you want to start it, you’ll have over 40,000 people behind you.
“If there is no (aggression) there will be no Border-Gavaskar Trophy?”
Warner said he would like to see Siraj focus on sorting out the Australian tail rather than chasing Head.
“After 130 – I think the batsmen are going to be like, ‘Hey, calm down.’ We have to go out soon in potentially the most difficult of circumstances and the ball still looks a bit wide of the wicket and is a bit wobbly. So, calm down,’” he said.
Siraj’s outburst energized the Adelaide crowd as fans cheered every boundary he conceded.
Siraj took Australia’s last wicket shortly after dinner time to finish with 4-98 as the home side maintained a 157-run lead on the second day.
Speaking to Fox Cricket at stumps, Head gave his side of the incident.
“I said, ‘Good hit,’ but he thought differently when he pointed me to the shed. He took a few bites back from me,” Head recalled.
“I’m a little disappointed with the way it went.
“That’s it. If that’s how they want to react, if that’s how they want to express themselves, so be it.”
