INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Gill was unhappy with Crawley pulling away twice before a delivery from Bumrah in the first over of England’s second innings © Getty
At the close of a simmering third day at Lord’s, Tim Southee accused Shubman Gill of double standards, as tempers frayed in the evening light. India’s captain was drawn into a fiery moment with England opener Zak Crawley, fuming as Crawley twice pulled away from his stance with Jasprit Bumrah ready to bowl. The cameras lingered on Gill, mouthing expletives in Crawley’s direction, frustration spilling into full view.
When Crawley called for the physio after jarring his finger off the fourth ball, India’s players walked over in unison, clapping, not in sympathy, but with a pointed sarcasm. England, through it all, managed to whittle the clock down. What looked like two overs for India at England’s openers became just one, with the home side even slashing a little time by arriving at the crease slowly.
Southee, now serving as a specialist skills coach, called out what he saw as hypocrisy, pointing to Gill himself receiving treatment for his back in the middle of Day 2. “It’s always exciting to see both sides animated towards the end,” Southee said at the end of the day’s play. “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. It’s an exciting way to finish the day.”
Southee also dryly suggested that Crawley would be “assessed overnight” for his blow to the finger, before underlining that the series had been played in good spirits. “Both sides have played some good cricket and in a good spirit, and tonight was just a bit of energy towards the end of the day,” he said. “It’s been a long three days, and it was good to see the energy still there from both sides.”
Rahul, meanwhile, explained the late-evening scenes through an opener’s lens, understanding Crawley’s instinct even as India pushed hard for a breakthrough. “What happened at the end is just part of the game now,” he said. “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.”
He added that India’s intensity had never depended on that moment alone, with the match finely balanced after both teams finished on 387 in their first innings. “We wanted to bowl two overs. 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.
“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. 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.”
© Cricbuzz
