KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were accused of time-wasting by broadcast commentators during their partnership on the third morning of the first England v India Test at Headingley, with Stuart Broad saying the umpires needed to 'get a grip' of the situation.
India were building their lead over England during the session, having lost captain Shubman Gill in the opening over of the day. Pant followed on from his century in the first innings, batting through the morning alongside Rahul who reached a half-century.
Broad: 'It can get frustrating'
However, both batters were criticised for taking too much time to face-up to deliveries, with Broad the first of the commentators to voice frustration. Both Pant and Rahul repeatedly made England's seamers wait to deliver the ball after reaching their mark, checking the field or adjusting their gloves before facing up.
“It can get frustrating," said Broad of what the England bowlers would think of being made to wait to bowl. "You need to remind the umpires that the team are ready if the batters are still messing around with gloves or scratching a mark. I often would say to the batter: ‘Look, I’ve got to walk 25 yards back to my mark, by the time I turn you should be ready’.
“Look now, KL Rahul is just looking at the field, slow, it’s another 10 seconds until Carse can set off. I think the umpires need to get a grip of this a little bit.”
Speaking on commentary alongside the former England bowler, Mel Jones said:“It’s an etiquette thing isn’t it. We grow up in cricket pretty much knowing that, you be ready when the bowler is ready. I think the other thing is trying to control the pace of the game, that might be a part of India’s play.”
A few overs later, KL Rahul pulled out of facing a ball from Chris Woakes as he entered his delivery stride, drawing frustration from Woakes and the England fielders.
Speaking on commentary on that occasion, former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik said:“Rishabh Pant is in the middle of getting his grip right on his bat [at the other end]. Happened for the third time now to Chris Woakes. He’s been very very charitable so far with his reactions.”
Nasser Hussain, however, defended Rahul, emphasising Pant adjusting a new grip on his bat handle at the non-striker's end, in Rahul's line of vision.
“I thought KL was doing Rishabh Pant a favour there,” said Hussain.“He’s pointed towards extra cover [when speaking to Woakes] but it was Rishabh Pant who was putting him off doing his bat handle at the other end. KL’s saying ‘oh extra cover was moving’, he’s not trying to throw his mate under the bus at the other end.”
At Lunch, England had bowled 24 overs and one ball in the morning session, with just the wicket of Gill having fallen.
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