Pat Cummins believed his intervention was unnecessary in the Travis Head-Mohammed Siraj send-off incident because Australia’s vice-captain is a “big boy” who can speak for himself, as the skipper praised his team’s performance in the ongoing series against India. Head hit a match-winning 140 from 141 balls in the pink ball Test as Australia recovered from a humiliating setback in Perth to triumph by 10 wickets and even the five-match series at one-all.
After Head was cleaned up by Siraj, the two were spotted exchanging words, although the batter subsequently claimed he just said “Well bowled”. Head claimed that Siraj’s dismissal was uncalled for and that he had just applauded the India pacer’s delivery after getting bowled.
Travis Head, the team’s vice-captain, is a large boy. “He can speak for himself,” Cummins remarked at the post-game media session. Siraj rejected the Head claim, stating, “I did not say anything to him.” In the press conference, he said the incorrect thing. He lied. “No way, he said ‘well-bowled’.”
Cummins addressed the issue, saying, “As a general rule, you typically let the boys be themselves. I would step in as captain if necessary, but as I previously stated, I’ve never felt the need to do so for our group.
“The umpire stepped in quickly, and that was the end of it.” “To be honest, they can do whatever they choose. I’m more concerned about our boys. As always, I thought our boys’ behavior was wonderful this week, as it appears to be every week.” Cummins went on to laud Head’s game-changing innings, saying he has the potential to put pressure on the opposition and take control of the game in all formats.
Every time he steps out, the game is in the balance, and it can go one of two ways, in the course of a session or so, he has completely taken the game away from them.