England accuse India of hypocrisy over time-wasting

Telegraph

10 hours ago

England said India were guilty of hypocrisy over shameless time-wasting after a spicy passage full of finger pointing and terse words late on the third day lit a fire under a gritty Test at Lord's.
The entire series has taken place at a funereal pace thanks to ball changes and unscheduled delays, and more than 30 overs have been lost across the first three days of this match. But England's openers provided a masterclass in time-wasting to ensure that they had only to face a single over at the end of day three after the first-innings scores were level.
India's innings concluded at 6.14pm, leaving England with six minutes – ie two overs – to bat. But a series of ruses from Zak Crawley, who pulled out late from his stance and also claimed to have been hit on the hand while defending the ball, meant they faced just one, from Jasprit Bumrah, surviving on two without loss.
India were furious with Crawley's tactics, with captain Shubman Gill telling him to 'grow some f---ing balls'.
It's all kicking off at Lord's!
Zak Crawley is doing everything to slow down the final over of the day, the Indian players are sarcastically applauding as he calls over the physio... 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Lkgr2Fi1Ho
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 12, 2025
The former England captain Michael Vaughan claimed it was 'as good a piece of time-wasting I've ever seen', adding that 'India can't complain'. He argued that Gill received a massage on the second afternoon, towards the end of England's first innings because KL Rahul was off the field and would need to open.
The interim England bowling coach Tim Southee agreed that Gill could have no complaints.
'It's good, it's always exciting to see both sides getting animated at the end of the day,' he said. 'I am not sure what they were complaining about when Shubman Gill's lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday. It's part of the game near the end of the day. It was an exciting way to finish the day.
'It's been a great three days of cricket, much more old fashioned. The way the guys kept the energy up with the ball and were able to dismiss India to level the scores [means] we are heading into a great shoot-out in the next couple of days.
'It's been a great series, both sides have played some good cricket in a good spirit. Tonight there was a bit of energy towards the end of the day, it's been a long three days and it was good to see the energy was still there.'
India's centurion Rahul, one of the players giving Crawley a piece of his mind, was phlegmatic, but warned England that India would return in fiery mood on the fourth day.
'It's part of the game now,' he said. 'I understand from an opening batter's point of view. I know what is going on, everyone knows what is going on. An opening batter will understand completely what happened in the last few minutes.
'We wanted to bowl two overs. Two overs is a no-brainer that any team would bowl two overs with six minutes to go. There was a bit of theatrics at the end and we were all pumped up because we know how difficult it is for a batter to come in to bat for a few overs when you've been in the field for two days and a wicket at the end of the day would have been perfect.
'Even without that we would have been fired up because of where the game stands with two days to go. Both the teams back to zero after three days of hard-fought cricket, it comes down to days four and five. We will try to take 10 wickets as fast as we can.'
Meanwhile, England spinner Shoaib Bashir will be sent for a scan on his left pinkie finger overnight. Bashir injured the finger fielding off his own bowling in his 15th over in the afternoon session, and did not return to the field, instead sitting by the boundary.
Southee joked that Crawley would need medical attention too, after the blow to his hand. 'He'll be assessed overnight and hopefully he'll be all right to carry on tomorrow,' he said, with perfect deadpan delivery.
That final over in full
Ball 1 India gather on the boundary early, but England's openers take an age to walk down the stairs from the home dressing room. Mohammed Siraj walks from mid-on to have a pop at Ben Duckett, before Crawley leaves a ball outside off-stump.
Ball 2 Bumrah over-corrects, and Crawley clips him away for two.
Ball 3 Crawley pulls out late, citing spurious movement behind the bowler's arm. The slip cordon, led by Gill, is furious. 'There's no-one there,' says Gill, before adding: 'Get some balls, show f---ing balls!' When the delivery is eventually bowled, it is left. Sky's broadcast apologises for the choice language used.
Ball 4 Crawley defends a ball on off stump, and India's fielders share some more thoughts.
Ball 5 With the time now 6.29, England are surely safe from another over. But for good measure, Crawley reacts as if in great pain after defending the ball high on his bat. He shakes his right hand, and calls the physio on. India's fielders clap sarcastically, before Gill comes over for more. Crawley and Gill point angrily at each other, with Duckett also giving the India captain a piece of his mind. The umpires watch on as almost every player stands in a small huddle as Crawley receives medical attention from England doctor Glen Rae. Afterwards, Crawley's right hand seems in fine fettle as he uses it to drink from a water bottle.
Ball 6 Finally ready to resume, Crawley is well beaten by Bumrah. He turns and walks straight off the ground as Bumrah and Gill smile wryly.