Siraj responds to fine for Head send-off as India’s danger duo miss training

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has shrugged off questions about his fine for giving Travis Head a send-off, while uncertainty surrounds the fitness of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah before the third Test in Brisbane.

Siraj and Bumrah, India’s opening bowlers, were conspicuous absentees from a morning training session on Tuesday in Adelaide, four days out from the start of the Gabba fixture.

Hours earlier, Siraj had been hit with a fine of 20 per cent of his match fee for his part in a heated exchange with Head on the second day of the second Test.

The International Cricket Council docked both players one demerit point each, meaning they will be allowed to take the field in Brisbane, but the main talking point was that Head avoided a fine.

As other Indian players batted and bowled in the nets, Siraj was asked for his reaction to the fine, which equates to about $16,500.

“Yeah man, it’s all good,” Siraj said.

Jasprit Bumrah (left) and Mohammed Siraj (right) did not bowl during India’s training session on Tuesday in Adelaide. Credit: Tom Decent

Asked if he was upset by it, Siraj replied: “I am going to the gym now.”

Any bad feeling between Siraj and Head on day two appeared to have resolved, with the pair sharing a hug after Australia completed their 10-wicket win to level the five-Test series 1-1.

The absence of Siraj and Bumrah from training raised eyebrows given that all of India’s other fast bowlers, including Harshit Rana (0-86 from 16 overs in Adelaide), bowled at full pace at the Adelaide Oval nets to top-order batsmen including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli.

There is no doubt both are having their workloads managed and do not need to bowl for the sake of it in the nets. But the sight of Bumrah spending time with India’s strength and conditioning coach on Tuesday, away from the main group, added weight to suggestions that the star quick is nursing an injury.

Jasprit Bumrah gets medical attention during the second Test in Adelaide. Credit: AP

Bumrah sought medical assistance during his 20th over in Australia’s first innings after appearing to clutch at his inner thigh/groin region.

India’s assistant coach Morne Morkel said Bumrah had merely been suffering from cramps, but it has been speculated that because his bowling speeds were down after that – particularly during his one over in the second innings – he could be in some doubt for what is a must-win match.

“There’s got to be some serious doubts,” former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming said on SEN Radio when told that Bumrah didn’t train. “Siraj might be workload [related] but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand.

“There’s no way that’s cramp. He was very ginger after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, not quite as slow second innings. I don’t even know why he bowled that over [in the second innings]. That actually gave some secrets away to everyone.”

After his heroics in the first Test in Perth, Bumrah is still the leading wicket-taker in this series with 12 scalps at 11.25 – one more than Mitchell Starc (11 at 21.18).

India will travel from Adelaide to Brisbane on Wednesday and are likely to have their main training session on Thursday, two days out from the match, in which Bumrah would normally be expected to bowl.

Australia’s players and staff flew to Brisbane a day earlier but might have to settle for indoor nets on Wednesday, with up to 25 millimetres of rain expected in the Queensland capital. Scattered showers are forecast in the lead-up to Saturday’s Test, which could make the Gabba pitch more bowler friendly.

Australia’s bowlers will have only one all-out session on Thursday before the match begins.

India won their last Test at the Gabba in 2021, while Australia have lost two of their past four Tests in Brisbane after an unbeaten run from 1988 to 2021.

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