On the third day of the Lord’s Test, England’s opener Zak Crawley had a tense moment with Indian captain Shubman Gill. There was a big argument after Crawley and Ben Duckett took 90 seconds to walk to the crease.
Gill, very angry about the timing, said the English players were wasting time on purpose, which caused a lot of shouting from the Indian team. Crawley said the argument didn’t go too far and later explained that the hold-up was not meant to happen, calling it “the best of competitive cricket.”
The event fired up both teams, bringing out strong performances from Siraj, Bumrah, Stokes, and Archer, which led to England winning by 22 runs in a thrilling finish.
[WHAT’S HAPPENING] Gill’s Protest Sparks Tempers
The tension had been simmering all match, but it finally boiled over in the twilight of Day 3. With only minutes left before stumps, Crawley and Duckett took noticeably longer than usual to step onto the field.
Sensing a deliberate tactic to avoid facing a full over, Gill exploded—voicing his frustration loud and clear. Like a general leading his troops, Gill called upon nearly the entire Indian fielding unit, who formed a circle around the English openers.
What followed was an intense verbal war—tense but within the cricketing spirit.
Crawley, looking calm under fire, later reflected on the incident with admiration rather than regret. “It’s two versus eleven, they’re trying to get you out, they’re chirping… I loved that little eight-minute passage,” he stated post-match in Manchester.
🏏⏱️ “They were 90 seconds late to crease…” #Gill breaks silence on #confrontation with #Crawley–#Duckett 🗯️🔥 🔴 Catch the day’s latest news here ➠ https://t.co/FaDs1fapVp 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/JDhmRcERr9
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) July 23, 2025
SUGGESTED READ: Smriti Mandhana Turns 29: Her Top Cricket Records
Crawley Clarifies the Controversial Delay
Crawley spoke up to clear things up, saying he did not try to waste time on purpose. “No, not really.” I stay in my place until the umpires come out. I didn’t know we were 90 seconds late, but okay,” he said.
The moment, while strong, kept to the rules. “Nobody went too far,” Crawley said. “It was only a game of cricket.” Everyone was happy. This moment made an already tense and proud series even more exciting.
[TRENDING] England Respond with Fire, India Crumble
The events after the fight were not just luck. India played very strongly on Day 4, with Siraj and Bumrah throwing fast balls. But, England got through the tough times and fought back just as hard.
Ben Stokes bowled hard for 10 overs and broke through India’s middle order. Then Jofra Archer showed up, bowling really fast and taking out the last few batsmen.
India got all out for 170, missing the target by 22 runs in a close finish that was just as intense as the arguments on Day 3.
Amit Mishra’s Thoughts
This wasn’t just a cricket game—it was like a chess match with tight fists and strong looks. Crawley and Gill’s argument could be seen as one of the most exciting recent clashes at Lord’s.
What makes it different is the wild but managed situation—people talked, feelings got strong, but it never turned bad. It’s the type of fire cricket needs to stay alive.
YOU MIGHT READ: Kamboj Over Kuldeep? India’s Surprising 4th Test Call
