NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has expressed concerns about Mohammed Siraj‘s premature wicket celebrations without awaiting the umpire’s signal. Taylor suggests that senior Indian players should counsel the pacer about this behaviour, which he believes reflects poorly on the sport.
Taylor told Nine News, “I think with Mohammed Siraj, I’d like to see some of the Indian players have a chat with him, not so much what happened with Travis Head but how when he thinks he’s got a batter out he doesn’t turn around and actually acknowledge the umpire whether he’s given it out or not.”
He further stated, “I think that’s the bad look for him and the game.” Taylor appreciates Siraj’s enthusiasm and competitive spirit but emphasises the importance of maintaining respect for cricket traditions.
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The discussion arose following Siraj’s confrontation with Travis Head during the Adelaide Test’s second day, where Australia equalised the series with a 10-wicket victory. After dismissing Head, who scored a brilliant 140 off 141 balls, Siraj delivered an aggressive send-off, resulting in boos from the Adelaide spectators.
The incident led to both players receiving one demerit point, with Siraj additionally facing a 20 per cent match fee penalty.
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Taylor cautioned about maintaining appropriate boundaries in player confrontations, stating that administrators and captains must prevent escalation into physical altercations.
Simon Katich, former Australian batsman, described Siraj’s actions as a momentary lapse in judgment.
Speaking to SEN Radio, Katich noted, “It’s a shame that Siraj had a bit of a brain fade…there’s no need for that in the game.” He observed that Siraj appeared remorseful later, suggesting the incident might have stemmed from performance-related frustration.
