BGT 2024-25: Travis Head explains his controversial wicket celebration of Rishabh Pant

Travis Head made a controversial celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant on day 5 of the MCG test.

Australian cricketer Travis Head came under the firing line of a section of fans on social media for his unique yet weird celebration after taking the wicket of Rishabh Pant on day 5 of the recently-concluded Melbourne test.

Head provided the crucial breakthrough for Australia at the start of the third session on day 5. Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal had blunted out the Australian bowlers for the entire second session and looked set to take India to a draw.

However, Pant’s attacking instincts took over and he went for a slog-pull off Head’s long-hop and was caught by Mitchell Marsh at wide long-on.

Head made a weird gesture in his celebration. He made a hole in his closed fist and put his finger in it.

Finger on the ice: Travis Head explains his celebration

Many on social media assumed it was a vulgar celebration from Head directed towards the Indian team and asked for a sanction on the Australian cricketer.

While speaking on Triple M Radio, Head revealed the reason behind his celebration and what actually it indicated. Head said it was a “Finger on the ice” celebration, something he had previously done when he took four wickets in a match in Sri Lanka in 2022.

Head explained, “Finger on the ice. I started it in Sri Lanka (when he took 4/10 in 17 balls in 2022). I put my finger on the ice and be ready to go for the next one. I didn’t expect to be bowling. I thought Galle would be my next bowling. I’ll go put it down in a little cup of ice, be ready to go up there next.”

Broadcaster 7Cricket pulled out an Instagram post of Head’s from a couple of years ago, in which he made the same gesture while putting his finger in an ice glass.

The hot finger placed in ice, Travis Head reprising an old celebration 😅 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/CYV2auvdlq

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 30, 2024

After the MCG test, captain Pat Cummins gave the same explanation for Head’s celebration.

“His finger is so hot that he is going to put it in a cup of ice. Yes, that’s what it is,” Cummins said. “That’s normally the running joke. Was it at the Gabba or somewhere, where he got a wicket as well and just got straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in.”

Pant’s dismissal triggered a collapse and India eventually lost by 184 runs. Australia lead the series 2-1, with the fifth test in Sydney slated to start on January 3.

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