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Former Australia captain Michael Clarke opened up about Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj’s heated exchange with Australian batter Travis Head. Notably, Siraj and Head made it to the headlines during the second Test of the five-match series. The duo engaged in a heated altercation after the Indian bowler gave an animated send off to Head during Australia’s first innings. Former Australian captain Clarke expressed his opinion on the controversy and said that the incident has spiced up the forthcoming Brisbane Test, which is set to kick off on December 14.
While speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast show, Clarke said, “I hope it’s play on. They (Siraj and Head) will get a naughty-boy smack on the wrist, we all hope. I’m sure they’ll get a fine, which they’ll probably pay with the pocket change that they’ve got, and then I hope it gets on. It didn’t look great… but there was a lot of confusion about what was said. Mohammed Siraj thought one thing, waves his arms, Travis Head was saying one thing. To be fair, in the ground, it added to the theatre of the day.”
Every series needs a villain, Mohammed Siraj is now a villain: Michael Clarke
The former Aussie player also stated that after the dispute, Mohammed Siraj has now become a villain after the incident. He said, “Every series needs a villain — Mohammed Siraj is now that villain and I think it will add great spice to the series come Brisbane, where when he walks out to bat and when he comes out to bowl, it will be on for young and old; in a good confrontational way. I’d be disappointed if they were rubbed out of the game, that’d disappoint everyone, I think.”
Clarke further insisted that the Indian player should get fined. He said, “Siraj should be fined for keeping on appealing for LBWs and not asking the umpire. He hits the batter on the pads and just runs down like they’re out. I’m surprised the ICC haven’t fined him because I remember when I was playing, you get fined every time.” Notably, Siraj has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
