Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes a heated exchange between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley at Lord’s lit a fire under the England team, helping them secure a crucial victory in the ongoing Test series.
Lord’s Erupts: The Gill-Crawley Showdown
The tension began brewing late on Day 3 of the Test. India’s Shubman Gill found himself in a fiery confrontation with England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Gill, visibly frustrated by Crawley’s slow play, ran from the slips to exchange words, mock-clap, and point fingers.
Crawley and Duckett stood their ground, leading to a dramatic scene that set the stage for the following days of play.
Kaif’s Insight: A Spark for England
According to Mohammad Kaif, this specific bust-up was a turning point. He noted that England, reeling from their Edgbaston defeat and facing scrutiny over their performance, used this incident as motivation.
Kaif stated, “Shubman Gill’s fight with Zak Crawley charged England. After Edgbaston, there were questions about their batting, bowling and captaincy. But that incident fired up Stokes and he bowled an inspiring spell. It is wise to stick to the attitude that works for you. Gill will learn this the hard way.”
Tensions Spill Over to Day Four
The animosity didn’t end on Day 3. On Day 4, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett and let out an intense roar directly into the batsman’s face, a moment marked by bulging eyes and popping veins. Siraj even had a brief shoulder contact with Duckett, prompting a talking-to from the umpires.
Day Five: Aggression Continues
The final day of the Test also saw several heated exchanges. England’s Jofra Archer, in a devastating early spell, dismissed Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar, making sure to give them clear send-offs.
Archer continued to engage with batsmen even when not bowling. Notably, Harry Brook was heard telling Nitish Kumar Reddy from the slips that he was “no longer playing in the IPL,” adding to the verbal sparring.
One of the most significant flare-ups involved Brydon Carse and Ravindra Jadeja. The two players collided while Jadeja was running between the wickets, leading to a heated exchange before Ben Stokes stepped in to separate them. Both players later appeared to suggest the collision was accidental.
A Gritty Indian Fightback Falls Short
Despite the constant verbal battles and intense atmosphere, India showed significant resistance. Ravindra Jadeja anchored the innings with an unbeaten 61 runs off 181 balls, leading a spirited fight from India’s last three wickets for over 50 overs.
Ultimately, England held their nerve, winning the Test by a narrow margin of 22 runs and taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
- Mohammad Kaif believes the Shubman Gill-Zak Crawley confrontation spurred England on.
- The incident occurred on Day 3, with Gill reacting to Crawley’s time-wasting.
- Tensions escalated on Days 4 and 5, involving players like Siraj, Archer, Brook, Carse, and Jadeja.
- England managed to win the Test by 22 runs, despite a resilient performance from India’s lower order.
This Test match highlighted how high emotions and on-field confrontations can heavily influence the dynamics and outcomes in elite cricket.
