Travis Head takes parting shot at Indian quick after copping fiery send-off spray on day two of second Test at Adelaide Oval

A disappointed Travis Head says Indian firebrand Mohammed Siraj went too far with his pent-up send-off in their second-Test flashpoint.

The Australian batsman also has a tinge of regret at his own verbal response to Siraj in their fiery clash on Saturday.

Head plundered the fastest century in day-night Tests, thrilling his sell-out home crowd at Adelaide Oval by reaching the milestone from just 111 balls.

The South Australian strokeplayer, who broke his own record of a 112-ball ton in a day-night Test against England in 2022, smacked a superb 140 from 141 balls.

But after hitting Siraj for an audacious six with a leg-side flick, he was bowled by the Indian paceman.

Siraj gave the home-town hero a verbal send-off before gesturing to the dressing room, with Head responding with some choice words of his own.

‘I actually joked with him and said ‘well bowled’ and then he pointed me to the sheds,’ Head said.

‘I would like a better reaction (from Siraj). I was surprised at the reaction in terms of the situation of the game.

‘I felt it was probably, yeah, a little bit far at the time.

‘And that is why I am disappointed in the reaction that I gave back, but I am also going to stand up for myself.

‘I’d like to think in our team that we wouldn’t do that. It’s not how I would like to play the game, and I feel like my teammates are the same.

‘…I can’t speak much for India but, like I said, I am going to call out in certain situations.

‘I feel like you can play hard and play fair, but obviously when you’re out, you can’t do much about it.

‘I am disappointed with the reaction I had after that, but certainly I am going to stand up for myself.’

Head was also disappointed at India’s reaction to his dismissal in the series-opener in Perth but believed relations between the two teams remained ‘really good’.

‘And I think that’s why I’m disappointed with the couple of reactions I have got when I have been dismissed, that’s all,’ he said.

‘I feel like the game has moved and the way I play the game, I’m out here having a good time, I want to enjoy myself.

‘I want to play hard, play fair. And I have a joke with the fielders in the field, I am always interacting, and it has been on very civil terms and enjoyable.

‘And I know that they’re competing hard, but I can have a laugh at the same time.

‘And then to get the reaction that I did off the back of that, I would almost rather it the other way: I would rather them trying to tear shreds off me and then give it to me.

‘… But I think the relationship is fine, it’s very civil, both teams respect each other.’

 Fans and pundits watching at home were not too pleased with Siraj’s almighty spray.

 ‘Siraj, you’re a disgrace to yourself, Test cricket and your country,’ posted rugby league reporter Dean Ritchie.

‘Yeah, Siraj, what a hero, give the big ‘send-off’ to a bloke who’s just clobbered you all over the park. W****r. Magnificent knock Travis Head,’ posted journalist Rohan Connolly.

Head now holds the top-three quickest tons in day-night Tests – his third-ranked knock being the century from 126 balls he hit against the West Indies, also in 2022.

On Saturday, Head struck 17 fours and four sixes en route to his eighth Test career ton, which he celebrated by cradling his bat in his arms in a nod to the birth of his second child five weeks ago.

The cavalier No.5 batsman now has two centuries, plus an 89 and a 90, in his past six Test innings against India.

And the fan favourite has made three centuries from his past four Test knocks on his beloved Adelaide Oval.