“India doesn’t think it’s fair at all”: Head and Siraj sanctioned for Adelaide confrontation

TRAVIS Head and Mohammed Siraj have been sanctioned after being found guilty of breaching cricket’s code of conduct after their confrontation during the Adelaide Test.

Siraj received the heavier punishment of the two, being slapped 20 per cent of his match fee. Head wasn’t handed a fine but both players received one official demerit point on their record.

The Indian quick breached article 2.5 of cricket’s code of conduct for his send-off for ‘using language actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal’, while Head breached article 2.13 for abuse of a player.

While the punishments went according to the code of conduct, with 2.5 coming with a fine and 2.13 not automatically triggering a financial sanction, SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan says that India doesn’t think it’s fair that the ICC came down harder on Siraj.

He also added that the nation and perhaps the side haven’t been thrilled with how Siraj has been portrayed in the Australian media in the wake of the incident.

“I’ll tell you what, India doesn’t think it’s fair at all,” Sundaresan told SEN’s The New Ball.

“India also doesn’t think some of the headlines in the Australian papers and news websites represent the incident fairly.

“India, the team, will never give you anything official, everything I say is off the record. But India, the country, which at times is a reflection of India the team and vice versa, believes this.

“I think a couple of headlines I saw being critiqued a lot were where it said Travis Head and ‘controversial Indian fast bowler’, they’re like, ‘Hang on, what about Travis Head? He was involved as well?’.”

While some plans felt the sanctions weren’t handed down fairly, Sundaresan is glad that the punishments were in line with the code of conduct and he hopes everyone can now move on from the incident ahead of the next Test.

“Anyway, the fact is that they’ve been fined under two different codes of conduct points,” Sundaresan said.

“With Siraj, it was article 2.5 which is using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal. In other words, a send-off, and that’s why he was fined. He gets one demerit point, it’s the first time he’s got that.

“With Travis Head, it was more abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match. That does come with a reprimand and no fine, that’s just how it is.

“It will be debated, but in a way, I’m glad it’s come and gone and we all can move on.

“I think it’s fair to the code of conduct.”

With the series now tied 1-1, the third Test begins at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday 14 December. Listen to every ball LIVE on SEN and the SEN app.

BY SEN / LACHLAN GELEIT