Temperatures boiled over at Lord's during the third day of the match between India and England as Shubman Gill was involved in a heated exchange with Zak Crawley. It all began with the England batter pulling away four times before facing the third delivery of the first over from Jasprit Bumrah. Gill wasn't happy at all with Crawley and believed that he was time-wasting so that the hosts do not have to face more than an over for the rest of the day.
However, the drama didn't end there as a delivery from Bumrah ended up hitting Crawley on the glove and a physio was soon called onto the field. This once aqain lead to Gill and other members of the Indian team taunt Crawley for his time-wasting antics. Gill also had a heated argument with Ben Duckett on the pitch before the day was brought to and end following the conclusion of Bumrah's over. England managed to not lose any wickets, wrapping up the day on 2/0.
Vaughan pointed out how India had also wasted time earlier in the match
However, former England captain Michael Vaughan wasn't happy at all with India sledging Crawley and pointed out how Gill & Co. had themselves wasted time earlier in the match.
"It's as good a piece of time-wasting I've ever seen. India can't complain because yesterday Gill was down with the hamstring strain – Rahul was off the field and wouldn't have been able to open the batting," Vaiughan said on the Test Match Special podcast.
"Neither team can complain, but what great drama and what a great day. We're in for a fourth and fifth day that will be fantastic," he added.
Elsewhere, another former England captain, Alastair Cook believes that the series needed this kind of drama as both teams khad looked to be quite 'friendly' towards each other in the first two Tests.
"Everyone has been so friendly, but this always happens in a series of five matches. There's little moments after playing against each other so many times. Duckett was like a dachshund: all those big dogs and he was the one squaring up to [India bowler Mohammed Siraj," Cook stated.
Meanwhile, India put up 387 runs on the board on Day 3, the exact same as England's first-inning total which meant that the scores were tied as Crawley and Duckett took the crease for the hosts' second inning of the match. Earlier, KL Rahul had scored a brilliant century and the duo of Rishabh Pant (74) and Ravindra Jadeja (72) had also given valiant contributions with their knocks. It will now be up to the Indian bowlers to restrict England to a low total as both teams take the field on Day 4.