8th June 2023, Mumbai: Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final witnessed a heated moment between Mohammed Siraj and Steve Smith. The match, which had seen Australia dominate on Day 1, took an intense turn as Siraj threw the ball in Smith’s direction. The incident occurred after Smith had hit consecutive boundaries to complete his 31st Test century. However, Siraj was infuriated when Smith backed away from the next ball due to an issue with the spider cam. The Indian pacer expressed his displeasure by throwing the ball towards Smith, who tried to explain his actions, but tensions were high. Travis Head’s Century Draws Comparison to Adam Gilchrist
Amidst the clash between Mohammed Siraj and Steve Smith, Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting compared Travis Head to the modern-day Adam Gilchrist in Australia’s XI. Head, who had propelled the momentum in favor of Australia with a remarkable century on the opening day, received high praise from Ponting. The left-hander’s unbeaten 146* from just 156 deliveries, along with Steve Smith’s 95*, formed a compelling 251-run unbroken partnership. Ponting commended Head’s striking ability and pointed out that he was scoring even quicker than Gilchrist during the World Test Championship qualification period.Head’s Remarkable Performance and Similarities to Gilchrist
Travis Head’s aggressive innings reminded Ricky Ponting of his former teammate, Adam Gilchrist. Ponting highlighted Head’s strike rate of 81 during the World Test Championship, which surpassed that of any other batsman who had scored over 500 runs. He praised Head’s growing confidence, increasing strike rate, and ability to put pressure on bowlers early in his innings. Ponting drew comparisons to Gilchrist, known for his attacking style from the moment he stepped on the crease. Head’s approach, especially his proficiency in dealing with over-pitched deliveries, shifted the momentum in Australia’s favor after India’s quicks made a decent start to the match.India’s Bowlers Learn from Head’s Innings
Ricky Ponting suggested that India’s bowlers should have exercised more patience and prevented Travis Head from scoring freely, instead of making length errors early on. He emphasized the need to execute perfectly against Head when he first comes to the crease, as any loose delivery would be punished. Ponting anticipated that India’s bowlers would learn from their first-innings experience and make adjustments in the second innings. However, he warned that sometimes it could be too late to rectify their approach.
The intense exchange between Mohammed Siraj and Steve Smith and Travis Head’s impressive performance have added a captivating dimension to the ongoing World Test Championship final. As the match progresses, fans eagerly await how the teams will respond to the challenges posed by their opponents.
Article by PRITESH PATEL