 "Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley’s confrontation has surprisingly been appreciated by England’s legendary cricketers. Image: Reuters")
Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill and England opener Zak Crawley’s confrontation from the last few minutes of play on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test has become the biggest talking point in the cricketing world, currently. With England not wanting to bat more than one over at the dying stage of the third day’s play of the third Test, Crawley resorted to time-wasting tactics.
This did not go down well with Gill, who was seen confronting Crawley with some strong words. “Grow some f—ing balls,” Gill was heard saying through the stump mic.
While Gill may not be happy and Crawley may not have liked the words thrown at him during the aggressive face-off, former England cricketers were all okay.
Vaughan, Cook, Broad react to Gill vs Crawley
Former England captain Alastair Cook felt it was something that the series needed. “Everyone has been so friendly, but this always happens in a five-match series,” he said.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said India cannot complain about Crawley’s time-wasting methods, as Gill did the same on Day 2.
“It’s as good a piece of time-wasting as I’ve ever seen,” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast. “India can’t complain because yesterday Gill was down with a hamstring strain – Rahul was off the field and wouldn’t have been able to open the batting. Neither team can complain, but what great drama and what a great day. We’re in for a fourth and fifth day that will be fantastic.”
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad said that even though the last over was completed in seven minutes, he didn’t mind it.
“I’ve been moaning about slow play, so it feels strange that my favourite over of the series – the final one of the day – lasted 7 minutes,” Broad wrote on X.