"Travis Head lied... no-way he said well-bowled" - Mohammed Siraj on sledging incident in 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test

Mohammed Siraj added more fire to the sledging controversy by saying Travis Head lied to the press on Saturday, December 7. Head claimed he said "well-bowled" to the Indian pacer after getting clean-bowled in the second innings of the ongoing Adelaide Test.

Siraj did a 'go-back' gesture to Head after he got him at 140 (141), which included a six and a four in his last three balls. Head hurled some expletives back, too, but in the post-day press conference, he fanned controversy by asking if that's how the Indians wanted to "represent themselves".

"I was enjoying bowling to him," Siraj told Star Sports. "It was a good battle because he was batting really well. When batter hits you for a six on a good ball, it feels bad. That gave me an energy. After bowling him out, I celebrated. Then he abused me. You can see on TV as well. In the start, it was my celebration, I didn't say anything to him. In the press conference, he said wrong thing. He lied. No-way he said well-bowled."

"We respect everyone. I always respect everyone because cricket is a gentleman's game. Travis Head's actions were wrong. I did not feel good," Siraj added.

Head also said he was disappointed with how he reacted to the send-off, too, but added that he wanted to "stand up" for himself.

Harbhajan Singh supports Siraj

Harbhajan Singh, who was in the chat from the broadcasters' side, came in Siraj's support. He said:

“What you did Siraj was right. He will remember that ball for a long while. And he definitely didn’t say 'Well bowled'! Whole Australia also must have watched."

“You did right. He (Travis Head) never said ‘well bowled.’ Australians don’t say this to anyone. I have had my fair shares of battles with them in the past," the former off-spinner added.

Catch all the live action from Perth here.