Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj found himself at the centre of a heated exchange with Australian batter Travis Head during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. The incident occurred after Siraj clean bowled Head, just moments after the Australian had struck him for a massive six. Following his dismissal, Head claimed he had said “well bowled” to Siraj, a statement the Indian pacer refuted.

Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden weighed in on the controversy, siding with Head’s account while acknowledging the possibility of a misunderstanding due to the intensity of the moment. “There is no need to take further action on that. It was an incident neither party enjoyed. The cricket public doesn’t appreciate such reactions either. Let’s not forget Siraj bowled a superb delivery to dismiss an in-form batter during a pivotal innings,” Hayden said.

ALSO READ: Indian Fan Ejected For Sandpaper Taunt At Adelaide Test Amid Border-Gavaskar Drama

Matthew Hayden further explained, “I could lip-read Head saying ‘well bowled.’ However, in the heat of the battle, misinterpretations are bound to happen. But at the end of the day, everything is fair in cricket when it comes to the dismissal of a batter.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) intervened, penalizing both players for breaching its Code of Conduct. Siraj was fined 20% of his match fee, while Head received an official reprimand. Both were handed a demerit point on their disciplinary records.

ALSO READ: Andy Roberts Hails Mohammed Shami As India’s Best Bowler, Ahead Of Jasprit Bumrah

The exchange added drama to a tightly contested Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which currently stands at 1-1. India had claimed a commanding 295-run victory in the series opener, only for Australia to respond with a dominant 10-wicket win in Adelaide. With momentum swinging back and forth, all eyes are now on the third Test, set to begin in Brisbane this Saturday, as both teams aim to seize control in this high-stakes rivalry.