AUS vs IND: Commentator explains Travis Head’s bizarre finger celebration at MCG

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 stood at 112 for 3, with Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal anchoring their hopes for a draw. But Head, trusted by skipper Pat Cummins, tempted Pant into an aerial pull shot towards long-on, where Mitchell Marsh safely took the catch. This wicket set the stage for a dramatic collapse.

What followed was Head’s unique celebration—pointing one finger into his other hand, which was shaped like a circle. The gesture puzzled fans and commentators alike until Channel 7’s James Brayshaw offered some clarity.

“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 said.

“So that was the celebration. He said ‘I just got him and I’m putting it back on ice’.”

Fellow commentator Greg Blewett expressed his admiration for the explanation while Brayshaw acknowledged the behind-the-scenes team for uncovering the intriguing detail.

“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.

Pant’s dismissal triggered a collapse, with Ravindra Jadeja and centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy falling soon after for meager scores. India slumped to 130-6, leaving Yashasvi Jaiswal, who ground out a resilient half-century, and Washington Sundar to salvage the game in the final session.

Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah shone with his 13th Test five-wicket haul, helping India bowl Australia out for 234 and setting a challenging target of 340. As the day unfolded, the stage was set for a gripping finale, with both teams vying to edge ahead in the series before the decider.