A terse final over on the third day at Lord’s ended with India accusing England of stretching the clock, and England responding in kind. Shubman Gill felt England deliberately slowed the game to ensure only one over was bowled before stumps; Tim Southee countered that Gill had no room to complain after “lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday.”
The flash-point arrived when Zak Crawley twice stepped away while Jasprit Bumrah ran in to open England’s second innings. According to stump-microphones Gill told him to “grow some f*ing balls”. Moments later Crawley was struck on the glove, signalled for treatment and, with just six minutes left, England got through only the solitary over they needed.
“It’s always exciting to see both sides animated towards the end,” Southee said afterwards. “I’m not sure what they were complaining about when Shubman Gill was lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday. It’s obviously part of the game [when] you’re near the end of the day.”
From India’s viewpoint it was an opportunity lost. They had been eyeing two overs at fresh openers on a wearing surface. “We wanted to bowl two overs,” vice-captain KL Rahul explained. “There were six minutes left. It is a no-brainer that any team will bowl two overs with six minutes to go, but it was a bit of theatrics at the end.”
India’s slip cordon made their feelings clear, clapping sarcastically as the physio attended Crawley. Gill and Crawley then exchanged pointed fingers before the umpires stepped in.
Rahul admitted the incident merely added spice. “We know how difficult it is for a batter to come to bat for two overs when you’ve been in the field all day,” he said. “A wicket at the end of the day’s play would’ve been perfect for us. Tomorrow, even without that, I think we would’ve been fired up anyway.”
Asked whether England’s tactics crossed a line, Rahul was philosophical. “What happened at the end is just part of the game now. I understand from an opening batter’s point of view. I know exactly what was going on, and everyone knows exactly what was going on. But an opening batter will understand completely what happened in the last five minutes.”
Crawley’s fitness will be checked again on the fourth morning, though Southee kept a straight face when giving the bulletin. “He’ll be assessed overnight,” he dead-panned, before stressing the broader context. “Both sides have played some good cricket and in good spirit, and tonight was just 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 still there from both sides.”
Over-rates, or lack of them, have been an undercurrent all match. Thirty-two overs have already disappeared from the schedule and the prospect of make-up time now looms. “It’s never ideal, I don’t think,” Southee conceded. “But it’s been hot so there’s been probably more drinks than usual. There’s been a number of stoppages with the ball also, and DRS takes its time… But yeah, to lose that much, it’s probably at the extreme level.”
The episode underlines a broader trend in modern Tests: every minute can be contested territory. Whether Gill’s frustration stems from genuine irritation or tactical awareness, England will feel the single over achieved its purpose. India, meanwhile, must regroup quickly; they still trail by 150 runs and conditions are forecast to remain warm.
Tomorrow promises fresh intrigue rather than outright animosity. With the second new ball eight overs old, Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj can attack, but England’s batting order has been robust all summer. Equally, Ravindra Jadeja will fancy the footmarks outside Crawley’s off stump if the opener is cleared to bat.
Lord’s has witnessed sharper confrontations, yet this one felt revealing. On a day dominated by attrition, it took six disputed minutes to remind everyone that tempo and theatre still matter.
