England opener Zak Crawley drew India’s ire for perceived time-wasting late on day three of the ongoing Lord’s Test.
After nearly three days of play, India concluded their first innings on 387, exactly matching England’s total. KL Rahul’s 177-ball century anchored the effort, while India’s familiar tail-end frailty resurfaced as they lost their last five wickets for 61 runs. Ravindra Jadeja provided crucial support with 72 (his third consecutive fifty), alongside Rishabh Pant, who was run-out on the stroke of lunch.
India’s late dismissal meant England had to bat for about ten minutes before stumps. The India fielders rushed back from a brief break, with Jasprit Bumrah taking the new ball and immediately setting an attacking field (three slips and a gully). But, with the India fielders in their positions, England opener Zak Crawley stood well outside leg stump, yet to take his guard.
The innings finally commenced with Crawley leaving the first ball, a wide outswinger outside off stump. Bumrah adjusted his line but overcompensated, bowling the next delivery full on Crawley’s pads, which was flicked to deep fine leg for two. Dinesh Karthik noted in commentary that play had begun 90 seconds behind schedule.
Tensions escalated when Crawley abruptly pulled away from the third delivery, pointing at the sight screen, prompting a fiery outburst from India captain Gill, who shouted, "Grow some f***ing balls!" while making an emphatic hand gesture at the England opener.
The situation grew uglier after the fifth ball. Crawley defended a length delivery from Bumrah back onto the stumps and immediately removed his top hand from the bat, calling for the physio. He then took off his gloves, shaking his hands repeatedly in visible discomfort.
Always annoying when you can't get another over in before close 🙄 pic.twitter.com/3Goknoe2n5
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2025
This further enraged Gill, who charged in from the slips for another heated exchange with Crawley, who was visibly unimpressed with Gill’s aggression. Fellow opener Ben Duckett also intervened, confronting Gill as India fielders converged and added fuel to the fire with sarcastic applause, clearly accusing Crawley of time-wasting.
The last ball from Bumrah was a jaffa, just beating the outside edge of Crawley, who turned to walk off the field immediately after surviving the delivery, marching back to the dressing room without looking back. The hosts went to stumps at 2-0.
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