MELBOURNE: Australia’s Travis Head’s bizarre celebration on the final day of the recently-concluded Boxing Day Test against India here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday, has ignited a debate on social media.
The incident occurred in the 59th over of India’s second innings when part-time spinner Head got rid of Rishabh Pant to break a threatening 88-run partnership between the latter and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Head selected the vital breakthrough by putting his right index finger in his a circle made by his left hand and a straight face.
His unusual celebration soon became the centre of attention and was even alleged to be ‘obscene’ by a large group of fans.
However, the fuss around his celebration eventually settled when Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins addressed the post-match press conference.
The pacer revealed that his celebration dates back to 2022 when he picked 4/10 withing 17 balls against Sri Lanka, after which he put his finger in a cup of ice.
“Sorry, yes, OK. I can explain that,” said Cummins with a grin.
“It’s his finger’s so hot he’s got to put it in a cup of ice. That’s what it is.
“That’s normally the running joke. He was at the Gabba or somewhere and he got a wicket as well and he just goes straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of (Nathan Lyon).
“Just like that. He thinks it’s very funny.
“So that’s what it would have been, nothing else.”
Later, Travis Head also elaborated his celebration by posting a picture of his finger dipped in a cup of ice on his Instagram story, captioned “Some can.”
- Travis Head