Australia against India: A commentator explained Travis Head’s strange finger celebration after getting rid of Rishabh Pant in the closing session of Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test.
Travis Head continues to torment India, both with the bat and the ball, as the Australian all-rounder made a vital breakthrough on the final day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Head dismissed India’s Rishabh Pant in the final session, and his subsequent quirky celebration became the talk of the cricketing world.
After tea, India was 112 for 3, with Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal maintaining their chances for a draw. But Head, who was trusted by skipper Pat Cummins, enticed Pant into an acrobatic pull shot to long-on, where Mitchell Marsh securely caught the ball. This wicket paved the way for a catastrophic collapse.
Head then celebrated in his own unique way, pointing one finger into his other hand, which was fashioned like a circle. The gesture perplexed fans and commentators alike until Channel 7’s James Brayshaw provided clarification.
“Now, great people in the back have said after he took 4-10 within 17 balls in Sri Lanka in 2022 he was quoted as saying, ‘I had to put the digit on ice’,” Brayshaw told ESPN.
So that was the celebration. He said, ‘I just got him, and I’m putting it back on ice’.”
Fellow commentator Greg Blewett praised the explanation, while Brayshaw thanked the behind-the-scenes team for discovering the unique information.
“You have done some investigating, haven’t you, JB. I had no idea what that was all about, good work,” he said. “I would like to take credit, but I had nothing to do with it. I was handed it on a bit of paper. That was a good get from our team,” he said.
Cummins apologized for the celebration during the news conference. Yes, all right! I can explain it. His finger is so burning that he is going to place it in a cup of ice. Yes, that is it. That’s typically the running joke. Was it at the Gabba or someplace else, where he got a wicket and went directly to the fridge, grabbed a bucket of ice, stuck his finger in, and walked in front of Lyno (Nathan Lyon). Just like that, I think it’s hilarious. So that’s all it would have been.
Pant’s departure set off a collapse, with Ravindra Jadeja and centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy following suit for low scores. India fell to 130-6, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar salvaging the game in the final session.
Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah impressed with his 13th Test five-wicket haul, helping India bowl Australia out for 234 and setting a difficult target of 340. As the day progressed, the stage was set for a thrilling finish, with both teams attempting to move ahead in the series before the decider.
