‘This is ridiculous’: Ashes centurion Travis Head fined 15 per cent of match fee for ‘audible obscenity’

The Gabba Test was plagued by technical problems, but the stump mics were working just fine – much to Travis Head’s misfortune.

The first Ashes Test in Brisbane was plagued by technical problems, most of which were caused by Covid-19 complications.

A non-dismissal from England all-rounder Ben Stokes exposed the lack of front-foot no-ball technology on day two of the Gabba Test, while there was also no Snicko technology available when DRS was called upon.

And of course, day four of the Test was thrown into chaos when generators went down at the Gabba, leaving broadcasters without live footage for approximately 25 minutes.

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But despite all the technical difficulties at the Gabba last week, the stumps mics worked just fine – much to Travis Head’s misfortune.

On Saturday, the International Cricket Council handed the Australian No. 5 batter a 15 per cent match fee for “use of an audible obscenity” on the field.

During his masterful 152 in the first innings against England, Head was overheard on the stump mics yelling an expletive after missing a delivery from Stokes on day two – an incident that was picked up by match referee David Boon.

Travis Head top-scored for Australia in the first innings. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The 27-year-old South Australian admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, but some cricket pundits were unimpressed with the punishment.

Although Head was guilty of the misdemeanour, many fans suggested that players should be allowed to vent their frustration on the field without repercussion.

Cricket writer Ben Jones tweeted, “This is ridiculous isn‘t it,” while Central Western Daily deputy editor Nick McGrath posted, “This is a bit of a joke.”

Yet he laughed off a beamer…icc are ridiculous.

— Rob Sutherland (@rob_sutherland3) December 11, 2021

Meanwhile, Travis Head has been fined 15% of his match fee for an "audible obscenity" after he was beaten by Ben Stokes. I heard it at the time, and wondered whether it had been batsman or bowler. Don't suppose he'll be too fussed after his 152.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) December 11, 2021

In 2018, the ICC controversially decided to allow stump microphones to be broadcast at all times, and several players have been scolded for on-field obscenities in the years since - most notably Jos Buttler and Tim Paine.

Adelaide United captain Stefan Mauk joked on SEN SA Breakfast: “I’m hoping there are no mics out there (when I play), I might be losing a lot more than 15 per cent of my wages.

“I think when you’re out on the field you’re sometimes extremely heated in the moment and you say things that, if you had your time again, you obviously wouldn’t say.

“It’s something in sport I think you get used to, maybe saying things or getting frustrated with yourself or teammates or opposition.

“I understand that if it gets caught on the mic and kids are listening it’s not a good look, but at the same time, it’s quite hard as a player. You’re trying to do your best and if that’s what gets you in the zone and makes you focused, why would you want to take that away from the player.

“Maybe you just mute the mics or they have some sort of system where they can censor that out.”

Travis Head has played 20 Tests for Australia. Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Head was awarded Player of the Match for his entertaining knock in Brisbane, which ranked as the third-fastest century in Ashes history.

Redbacks teammate Alex Carey heaped praise on the left-hander after his career-defining performance at the Gabba.

“There is a little bit of chatter about the way Travis plays, but when he gets away he is unstoppable,’’ Carey said.

“So you ride the waves. You ride the lows. I have seen that in Shield cricket for a number of years. He might make an amazing 30. He might make 150. He is a match-winner.

“If we see innings like that over the next 12 to 18 months, he is going to be one of the best players in the world. He is really confident.

“I think with Trav it is not worrying about the external noise. He will continue to play the way he plays best. Really positive. If there is a ball to hit, he hits it. He scores really quickly. He parks the scoreboard. He does not worry about that too much.”

Head has played 20 Test for Australia since his debut in 2018, scoring 1305 runs at 43.50.

The second Ashes Test gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm AEDT.