Indian great’s ‘heated’ claim for third Test after spiteful confrontation

An Indian cricket great is predicting tensions to once again boil over following a spiteful confrontation that unfolded in Adelaide.

Indian cricket great Harbhajan Singh has predicted the third Test between Australia and India to provide even more fireworks.

Tensions exploded between the two nations during the second Test in Adelaide when Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head had a fiery confrontation after Head was dismissed.

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Both men were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct with Siraj fined 20 per cent of his match fee while Head was reprimanded.

Singh hopes the incident won’t lead to more heated exchanges, but says with the series locked up at 1-1 ... further blow-ups are likely.

“You can’t really say who was wrong, who was right here. What I feel is that this should be the end of this thing right now,” he told Star Sports.

“I think the ICC is a bit too strict on players. These things happen on the ground. The players have patched up and talked to each other. Anyways, ICC being ICC has sanctioned the players.

“Let’s focus on cricket rather than all these controversies. Enough is enough. But what I feel personally is things will definitely get heated from the next Test match again.”

Tensions are tipped to spill over again in Brisbane. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Former Test captain Tim Paine doesn’t expect Head to take a backwards step and will continue his aggressive batting approach.

Paine said Head has flourished with his aggressive style since the departure of former coach Justin Langer.

“I think he and JL (former Australia coach Justin Langer) used to have a real difference of opinion,” Paine told SEN Breakfast.

“They (the coaching staff) were trying hard for him to work on his defence and it wasn’t the way he wanted to go about it.

“I think that’s been the major shift in his output because he is sticking true to the way he wants to play. He’s going to be super aggressive, he’s going to be playing his shots and he’s going to try and be a match-winner.”

Head’s aggressive approach continues to pay off. Picture: William West / AFP

Australia has only played five Tests at the Gabba after Christmas since matches were first played there in 1931. Three of those five matches resulted in Australian losses, with the move to open the Test summers in Brisbane having become something Australian players looked forward to.

“Different times of year definitely makes it different, it can be a slightly different pitch,” Sandurski said ahead of Saturday’s third Test start.

“Pitches later in the season might have a bit more wear and tear, while ones early in the season usually are a bit fresher and might have a bit more in them.”

“Generally speaking, we still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace and bounce that the Gabba is known for.

“We are just trying to make a traditional Gabba wicket like we do each year.”

The third Test between Australia and India will commence on Saturday.

Originally published as Indian great’s ‘heated’ claim for third Test after spiteful confrontation