Australia legend criticizes Mohammed Siraj for disrespecting the game: 'Rohit or Kohli need to intervene and talk to him'

Siraj's actions during the game were met with a chorus of boos from the Adelaide crowd, a reaction that continued throughout Australia's innings. It is expected that the bowler will face a similar reception when he steps up to bat on Day 3. The incident has sparked controversy both on and off the field, with many expressing concerns that Siraj's behavior may have breached the boundaries of fair sportsmanship.

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has condemned the bowler’s behavior as "disrespecting the game." On the Willow Talk podcast, Taylor took issue not only with the send-off of Head but also with Siraj’s repeated "celebrappeals," where he celebrates wickets before even looking back at the umpire, often to find the batter not out. This happened most recently when Siraj thought he had trapped Marnus Labuschagne LBW, only for the umpire to rule the appeal as not out.

Taylor stated, “I don’t know who instigated it, but it’s not a good look, particularly when a guy makes 140,” referring to Siraj’s confrontation with Head. The former Australian great further added, "I’d like to see someone have a little word to Mohammed Siraj." Taylor, who has always valued aggression in bowlers, expressed concerns over Siraj’s approach. “I like his competitive nature, he’s a fine bowler… I don’t like the fact that when he hits a guy on the pads, and he thinks he’s got him out LBW, he continues to run down the pitch, past the batsman, almost gets to the keeper and then looks around to the umpire to see if he’s going to give it out.”

Taylor believes this kind of behavior is detrimental to the game and should be reined in before it escalates further. "That’s got to stop, and if it doesn’t stop shortly, someone – and it’ll be the umpires or the match referee – might stop it for him, and give him a game off. We don’t want that,” he cautioned.

Taylor also urged senior Indian players, particularly captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli, to have a word with Siraj and guide him toward more respectful conduct on the field.

"Someone like a Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli needs to go up to him, and say ‘mate, yeah be excited, be aggressive, get in batsmen’s face, love all that, but that is disrespecting the game and the umpire,'" Taylor suggested.