India's bowling coach, Morne Morkel, came to the defence of pacer Mohammed Siraj following an incident in which Siraj delivered a heated send-off to Australian batsman Travis Head during Day 2 of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Siraj successfully dismissed the left-handed batsman, who had already made a significant contribution of 140 runs, thereby aiding Australia in establishing a strong position in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Upon taking Head's wicket with a yorker, Siraj celebrated exuberantly, which included remarks that did not sit well with Head, leading to a spirited exchange between the two players.

The local crowd in Adelaide expressed their discontent with Siraj's actions towards their homegrown talent, resulting in him being met with loud boos at the Adelaide Oval.

Morne Morkel addressed the situation during a press conference after the conclusion of Day 2, stating, "Siraj is the kind of bowler who gives his all whenever he has the ball. This is the spirit he contributes to the bowling team. He will consistently run in throughout the day, regardless of the scoreboard."

He further remarked, "In a significant series like this, such moments are inevitable. While I wouldn't categorize them as make-or-break situations, they do arise when a session is critical. Both players are fiercely competitive, but I am confident that by the end of the day, they will have reconciled and be on good terms."

Earlier, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar had criticized Siraj for his send-off to Travis Head, particularly given that Head had amassed a score of 140 runs.

'Lines and lengths' could have been better

Travis Head's impressive innings of 140 runs off 141 deliveries enabled Australia to set a total of 337 in their first innings, establishing a lead of 157 runs. Marnus Labuschagne contributed significantly with a score of 64.

It is noteworthy that Travis Head provided India with an opportunity while facing Ravichandran Ashwin; however, Siraj, who sprinted in from mid-on, failed to secure the catch.

After the conclusion of Day 2, Morne Morkel openly acknowledged that the Indian bowlers could have executed tighter lines and lengths.

"On Friday, the lines and lengths were not optimal, and there was some additional swing available. I believe they performed well this morning (Saturday) prior to Travis Head's innings. He applied pressure on the bowlers, but that is characteristic of his playing style," stated Morne Morkel.

Returning to the Adelaide Test, the Indian team finds itself in a precarious position, having been reduced to 128 for 5, still trailing by 29 runs. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy are set to continue for India on Day 3.

Earlier, Australia established a lead of 157 runs, thanks to Travis Head's aggressive innings, in which the left-handed batsman struck 17 fours and 4 sixes.

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