Travis Head’s strange celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant on day five of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India divided opinions. Here’s what Australia captain Pat Cummins said about it.
Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal seemed to have steered India to safety in the middle session, taking the visitors to 112-3 at tea. The game was likely heading for a draw when Head handed a crucial breakthrough with his off-spin.
Off the fourth ball of the 59th over, Pant tried to break the shackles by going after Head. He couldn’t clear the fence as he holed out to Mitch Marsh at long-on.
Following the dismissal, Head brought out a bizarre celebration that left everyone guessing. He put a finger into the other hand, which was curled in a circular shape.
The peculiar gesture left everyone baffled. However, Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw cleared the air later on. He explained that the Head’s celebration alluded to his 4-10 within 17 balls, against Sri Lanka in 2022, after which he had joked about needing to 'put the digit on ice'.
Travis Head gets Rishabh Pant and pulls out a unique celebration 👀#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/EVvcmaiFv7
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2024
Australia captain Pat Cummins, who admitted to being unaware of Head's celebration at first, later clarified that it was a reference to his best bowling figures back in 2022 in Galle.
"Sorry, yes, OK. I can explain that," Cummins said. "It’s his finger’s so hot he’s got to put it in a cup of ice. That's what it is. That’s normally the running joke. He was at the Gabba or somewhere and he got a wicket as well and he just goes straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of (Nathan Lyon).
"Just like that. He thinks it’s very funny. So that’s what it would have been, nothing else."
Pant returning to the pavilion for a 104-ball 30 triggered a collapse as the tourists lost their remaining six wickets for just 34 runs. Australia won the match by 184 runs, going 2-1 up in the series, with Cummins being adjudged the Player of the Match for his six wickets and crucial lower-order runs, including a 49 and 41.
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