Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has found himself at the center of controversy following his aggressive behavior during the Pink Ball Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Siraj's on-field actions, including a heated exchange with Australian batter Travis Head, have sparked criticism from former Australian captains Mark Taylor and Michael Clarke, leading to a potential disciplinary review by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
One of the key points of contention is Siraj’s tendency to celebrate prematurely, especially when an LBW appeal is made.
The pacer often assumes dismissals without waiting for the umpire’s decision, which has drawn the ire of critics who feel his actions undermine the authority of the officials.
Mark Taylor, speaking exclusively to an Australian media outlet, expressed his concerns: “I didn’t like the send-off from Mohammed Siraj. My biggest concern with Mohammed is this desire to assume that umpires are going to give dismissals.”
“I don’t like him running down the pitch when he hits a guy on the pads, going past the batsman, assuming he’s going to be given out, without showing respect to the umpire and the game to at least have a look at the decision. I think Mohammed… someone needs to have a chat with him about that," he added.
Clarke, on the other hand, was surprised that Siraj had not been fined for failing to consult the umpire after his appeals.
“Siraj should be fined for continuing to appeal for LBWs without asking the umpire. He hits the batter on the pads and just runs down like they’re out. I’m surprised the ICC hasn’t fined him because I remember when I was playing, you got fined every time,” said Clarke.
“Brett Lee was the worst at it, and they told him, ‘If you don’t turn around and ask the umpire, you’re going to be fined’. I’m more worried about that from Siraj than him and Travis Head. Siraj did it in the first Test as well. You’re OK to appeal for anything you want, but you’ve got to turn around and ask the umpire. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t been fined," he added.
The incident with the right-arm pacer's premature celebrations continued on the second day of the Adelaide Test when he appealed to Marnus Labuschagne, only for replays to reveal an inside edge, not a wicket. Despite this, Siraj’s actions did not go unnoticed.
As a result, Siraj was fined 20 percent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.”
Head was awarded one demerit point for breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire, or match referee during an international match.”
India will now prepare for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, which will take place between December 14 and 18 in Brisbane, with the series now tied at 1-1.
- Mohammed Siraj
