Former Australia opener Simon Katich tore into Mohammed Siraj for the fast bowler’s short ball ploy during day two of the Brisbane Test between Australia and India.
Following a rain-hit opening day, Australia lost openers Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9) cheaply. No.3 Marnus Labuschagne patiently batted for his 12 before perishing while trying to drive a full and wider ball from Nitish Kumar Reddy through the covers. The dismissal came just an over after Siraj pulled off a bail swap trick, reducing the hosts to 75-3.
Thereafter India’s bowlers looked clueless as Travis Head and Steve Smith piled on the misery. Head continued from where left in Adelaide, playing in his usual free-flowing fashion, while Smith’s revamped technique paid him rich dividends, having had a lean run in the series so far.
India received a lot of flak for their lack of planning against Head, with many experts suggesting a short-ball barrage against the Australia batter. Instead, the visitors went ahead with a spread-out field for a larger part of Head's innings, drawing severe criticism.
Siraj, who bowled a probing line and length in the first session without any success, resorted to a short ball ploy against Head. Bowling his 13th over of the innings, Siraj was ramped over third man for a four by the southpaw.
Katich, commentating on the match, didn’t seem pleased with the fast bowler’s tactic and made a critical assessment of it on air.
"That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj because an over before he had a man right in that spot (third man) and he's run in and bowled what they were planning without a fielder there. That is dumb, dumb cricket. Now he’s gonna put the fielder back down there. The horse has bolted, buddy," Katich said.
"That is dumb. Dumb cricket!"
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 15, 2024
Simon Katich didn't miss Siraj and India for this delivery that Travis Head ramped to the boundary...#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tvGRG2CfIK
Australia went to tea at 234-3, with Head and Smith batting on 103 off 118 balls and 65 off 149, respectively.
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