Jeff Thomson on Siraj-Head face-off: People don’t want to see them being matey, they want it full-on

“I would rather see that (showdown in Adelaide) than batsmen joking with bowlers,’’ Thomson was quoted as saying by Sydney-based The Daily Telegraph. “At least you know they are playing seriously. People who pay their money don’t want to see them being matey. They want it full-on.’’

Siraj was in focus during the Adelaide Test after he gave an aggressive send-off to Head after bowling him out. Head’s knock of 140 played an outsized role in Australia’s 10-wicket victory, which helped them level the five-Test series 1-1.

Although the situation calmed down after words were exchanged initially, the match officials fined Siraj 20 per cent of his match fee while Head had a demerit point added to his record.

The fiery exchange gave rise to the spirit of cricket debate, with many suggesting Head deserved more respect having scored a century.

Former players, however, did not see a problem. Former Australia fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz told The Daily Telegraph: “I grew up watching Dennis Lillee showing that emotion and you don’t want to take that away from the game. To me, it didn’t seem like much at all. I know rules are rules but at the same time the spectator has never been closer to the action and they pick up everything. Just let them go. No one was hurt. No one was injured. I’m not saying carry on like a pork chop but he was a young fast bowler celebrating a wicket.’’

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, too, added ‘it is good for the game in terms of the confrontation’. “Whether people agree with the language used or not is one thing but it is good for the game in terms of the confrontation. This series is incredible. In my opinion Test cricket in the last two years has been as good an entertainment product as it has ever been,” Vaughan was quoted as saying by the newspaper.