Zak Crawley has left India fuming at Lord’s over his time-wasting tactics at Lord’s
England opener Zak Crawley has infuriated India with time-wasting tactics as the third Test built towards a fascinating climax at Lord’s.
The scores were tied at 387 each after England’s bowlers finally showed their teeth late on day three on Saturday, leaving enough time for two nerve-racking overs deep in the evening session.
But Crawley ensured there would only be one, pulling out of his stance on three occasions as Jasprit Bumrah roared in from the Nursery End. He appeared to be citing distractions behind the arm, though it was far from clear what had caught his eye.
India were clearly annoyed by the delays and tempers soured even further as Crawley played a stout defensive, then shook his hand and waved for the physio, who dashed out for a cursory glance at the injury, then retreated as the clock ticked past 6.30pm, meaning no second over for the batters to face.
Boos rang out from the India fans and captain Shubman Gill made his displeasure clear.
Crawley played and missed at the final ball from Bumrah before turning on his heels and can expect plenty of spicy words when he resumes on day four, with England at 0-2.
Ben Stokes had earlier roused England’s spirits with two decisive interventions, pulling off the opportunistic run-out of Rishabh Pant in the last over before lunch and removing Nitish Kumar Reddy with a vicious lifter in the evening.
On both occasions the England captain ended important partnerships, worth 141 and 72 respectively, but the English attack looked too blunt for too long on a sluggish surface.
India favoured old-fashioned accumulation, KL Rahul’s even 100 backed by half-centuries from Pant (74) and Ravindra Jadeja (72).
England’s bowling options were reduced by the loss of spinner Shoaib Bashir to an injured little finger in the afternoon session.
There was an encouragingly fiery burst from Jofra Archer midway through the day, recalling his 2019 heyday with a spell of express pace that peaked at 94mph.
India resumed on 3-145 and came within three balls of a wicketless first session, Rahul sliding effortlessly back into the groove that brought his 53 runs the previous evening and Pant continuing his strong form.
The wicketkeeper battled through an injured finger on his left hand as he hooked Stokes for six to bring up his fifty.
He was run out for 74 on the last ball before lunch as he tried to take a quick single after playing Bashir towards cover point, where Stokes made a quick turn to hit the stumps on the non-striker’s end with a swift, direct throw.
