Head, Siraj sanctioned for Adelaide Oval spat
Australian batter Travis Head and Indian quick Mohammed Siraj have been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct for their verbal spat in the second Test in Adelaide.
Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee after being found to have breached article 2.5 of the code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal”.
In addition, one demerit point was added to Siraj’s disciplinary record, the ICC said in a statement.
Head was reprimanded after he was found to have breached article 2.13 of the code, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee”.
One demerit point has been added to Head’s disciplinary record.
The incident occurred when Siraj bowled Head for 140 in Australia’s first innings at the Adelaide Oval, and the pair exchanged heated words. Siraj also pointed Head towards the dressing rooms. The pair made up, to a degree, after the match.
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It was the first offence for both players in a 24-month period.
If a player reaches four or more demerit points in such a period, those points are converted into suspension points and the player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban for one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever might come first.
“Siraj and Head admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by (match referee) Ranjan Madugalle … and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC statement said.
On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire, Phillip Gillespie levelled the charges.
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The verdict came hours after Australia quick Josh Hazlewood called Siraj a “good character”.
Siraj became public enemy No.1 at the Adelaide Oval following the clash, with the crowd booing him for the rest of the Test.
The 30-year-old had already drawn the ire of Australia’s fans on Friday night when he aggressively threw the ball back at Marnus Labuschagne when the No.3 had pulled away from a delivery when a man holding a tower of beer cups had walked into his eye line.
Hazlewood, who missed the Test with a side strain, has played with Siraj in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“I really enjoyed my time at RCB with him,” Hazlewood said.
“He’s probably the leader of the attack there, to a degree.
“He’s another one who’s a bit like Virat (Kohli), very passionate, goes with the flow of the game, gets the crowd up.
“(He has) bowled serious spells in the IPL in the last few years.
“He’s just a good character and it’s good to see sometimes.”
