A disappointed Travis Head says Indian firebrand Mohammed Siraj went too far with his bottled-up farewell at the height of the second Test.
The Australian batsman also regrets his own verbal response to Siraj in their fierce clash on Saturday.
Head plundered the fastest century in the day-night Tests, thrilling his home crowd at the Adelaide Oval by reaching the milestone off just 111 balls.
The South Australian striker, who broke his own record of a ton off 112 balls in a day-night Test against England in 2022, scored a magnificent 140 off 141 balls.
But after hitting Siraj for an audacious six with a side leg flick, he was bowled by the Indian pacer.
Siraj gave the local hero a verbal farewell before gesturing towards the dressing room, and Head responded with a few words of his own.
“I actually joked with him and said ‘well played’ and then he pointed to the sheds,” Head said.
‘I would like a better reaction (from Siraj). I was surprised by the reaction regarding the situation of the game.
Mohammed Siraj has landed in trouble for his fiery dew at Travis Head
‘I felt like I was probably, yeah, a little bit far away at the time.
‘And that’s why I’m disappointed by the reaction I gave him, but I’m also going to defend myself.
‘I’d like to think that in our team we wouldn’t do that. That’s not how I would like to play and I feel like my teammates are the same.
‘…I can’t speak much for India but, as I said, I will draw attention in certain situations.
“I feel like you can play hard and fair, but obviously when you’re out, you can’t do much about it.”
“I’m disappointed with the reaction I got after that, but I’m certainly going to defend myself.”
Head was also disappointed by India’s reaction to his dismissal in the series opener in Perth, but felt that relations between the two teams remain “really good”.
“And I think that’s why I’m disappointed with the couple of reactions I had when I got fired, that’s all,” he said.
Head says Indian pacer went too far after dismissing him
Head plundered the fastest century in the day and night Tests at Adelaide Oval
“I feel like the game has moved on and the way I play, I’m out here having a good time, I want to have fun.”
‘I want to play hard, play fair. And I have a joke with the gardeners in the field, I’m always interacting, and it’s been on very civil and fun terms.
‘And I know they’re competing hard, but I can laugh at the same time.
And then to get the reaction that I had from that, I would almost prefer it to be the other way around: I would prefer that they try to tear pieces off of me and then give them to me.
‘…But I think the relationship is good, it is very civilized, both teams respect each other.’
Fans and experts watching at home were not very happy with Siraj’s almighty spray.
“Siraj you are a disgrace to yourself, try cricket and your country,” posted rugby league journalist Dean Ritchie.
‘Yes, Siraj, what a hero, say the big ‘goodbye’ to a guy who just hit you all over the park. W****r. Magnificent blow to Travis Head,” published journalist Rohan Connolly.
Australia finished the second day of the Test with a 29-run lead over India.
Head now has the fastest three tons in day and night Tests – his third-ranked knock was the 126-ball century he hit against the West Indies, also in 2022.
On Saturday, Head hit 17 fours and four sixes en route to his eighth career Test ton, which he celebrated by cradling his bat in his arms in a nod to the birth of his second child five weeks ago.
The gentleman number 5 batsman now has two centuries, plus an 89 and a 90, in his last six Test innings against India.
And the fans’ favorite has scored three centuries in his last four Test knocks at his beloved Adelaide Oval.