Head’s social media antics backfire against fired-up Proteas
South Africa’s Marco Jansen delivered a stinging send-off to Travis Head on the deciding day of the third and final Test against South Africa, throwing the Australian star’s signature celebration right back at him.
When the tall left-armer secured the catch off a superb Kagiso Rabada delivery, he wasn’t about to let the Australian star wander back to the pavilion quietly.
Marco Jansen’s celebration. Ashley Vlotman
The crucial dismissal left Australia reeling at 3-22 in pursuit of 288, sending the raucous Cape Town crowd into a frenzy.
Just as Head turned for the long walk back to the sheds, Jansen unleashed a celebration that directly mimicked the Australian’s familiar gestures.
“He’s my idol, so I was just trying to mimic him,” Jansen said.
“When we were batting, we obviously saw how he celebrated, and it just sort of happens. It just happened.”
Jansen was named Player of the Match on Sunday morning (AEDT).
The fiery reaction proved the South African camp had clearly taken note of Head’s social media antics earlier in the Test series.
In the wake of Australia’s commanding 214-run victory in Durban, Head shared a social media post making light of Proteas captain Temba Bavuma.
In what was clearly an AI video, it showed Bavuma watching as Josh Hazlewood – who starred with the ball in the first Test – celebrating on a dancefloor.
The cheeky re-share from Head didn’t got unnoticed from eagle-eyed fans on social media and it came back to bite him and the Aussies.
Bavuma acknowledged the post prompted some locker-room chat among his teammates, but he wasn’t about to label it a motivating factor.
“Not me personally, to be honest,” Bavuma said.
“I heard about it, but I didn’t see the video. I guess the guys ripped me off, as they always do in the changing room. I think it just spoke to the intensity, I guess, and the importance of the series. It’s a part of the story, right, if I put it that way.
“But I don’t think it added any extra motivation. The motivation and desire was always there to achieve what we’ve done.”
