The third Test between England and India at Lord's witnessed a heated exchange between India's captain, Shubman Gill, and England's opener, Zak Crawley, regarding time-wasting tactics employed by the latter. The incident occurred during the final overs of Day 3, when Crawley's delays in taking guard and a late call for the physio frustrated the Indian team, who were eager to bowl two overs before the close of play.
Gill's frustration boiled over, leading to a verbal confrontation with Crawley that was picked up by the stump mic. Gill was heard using strong language, and he was also seen making sarcastic gestures, suggesting Crawley should be substituted if he was genuinely injured. This aggressive behavior from Gill, who is generally known for his calm demeanor, sparked considerable debate and drew criticism from some quarters.
In a recent press conference ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, Gill addressed the controversy and defended his actions. He stated that England's batsmen were deliberately wasting time, arriving at the crease "90 seconds late" when only seven minutes of play remained. Gill argued that while teams often try to reduce the number of overs they face in similar situations, England's approach was not in the "spirit of the game". He also implied that there was a build-up to the incident, suggesting that other actions during the match had contributed to his frustration.
Gill's comments have reignited the debate about the incident, with some observers siding with the Indian captain. Mark Ramprakash, a former England batter and batting coach, suggested that Crawley "pushed things too far" with his time-wasting tactics. Ramprakash also criticized the umpires for "keeping quiet and not getting involved," implying that they should have intervened to prevent the delays. He noted England's slow over rate and leisurely breaks during India's innings, further questioning the umpire's lack of intervention.
However, Gill's behavior has also been criticized. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary suggested that Gill was trying to imitate Virat Kohli's aggressive approach, which was negatively affecting his batting. Tiwary urged Gill to express aggression through his performance rather than through verbal exchanges. Jonathan Trott also likened Gill's behavior to that of a "previous Indian captain," indirectly referencing Virat Kohli and suggesting that Gill's actions were excessive.
Despite the criticisms, Gill has stood his ground, asserting that his reaction was justified given the circumstances. He stated that he was not proud of the incident but emphasized that it "didn't just come out of nowhere". Gill's defense of his actions highlights the tensions that can arise in high-stakes Test matches, where teams often look for any advantage, even if it means pushing the boundaries of sportsmanship.
The controversy surrounding Gill's outburst and the time-wasting accusations has added spice to the ongoing Test series, which England currently lead 2-1. With England looking to secure a series victory and India aiming to bounce back, the remaining matches promise to be intense battles, both on and off the field. England captain Ben Stokes has stated that his team would not deliberately seek confrontation but would not back down either.
