The final over on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test between India and England had everything: tension, tempers, slow claps, and one rather sharp comment from Shubman Gill. What started as a regular end-of-day over quickly spiraled into a mini soap opera. And at the center of it all? Zak Crawley.
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What Happened on ENG vs IND 3rd Test Day 3?
With England just starting their second innings after both teams posted identical first-innings scores of 387, India had a clear goal: sneak in two overs before stumps and maybe grab a quick wicket. But that plan hit a snag, or so they thought, when Zak Crawley twice pulled away during Jasprit Bumrah’s run-up, citing a moving object near the sight screen. That didn’t go down well. Not with the Indian fielders. Not with Gill. And definitely not with the Indian commentators.
Was It Really Time-Wasting?
From India’s point of view, this looked like classic Time-Wasting Tactics in Test cricket. Crawley’s hesitation, followed by calling the physio after being struck on the glove, seemed a little too convenient. With the clock ticking and just minutes left in the day, emotions ran high. Gill lost his cool, yelling, “Grow some f***ing balls,” at Zak Crawley, and the Indian slip cordon followed it up with a chorus of sarcastic slow claps.
Always annoying when you can’t get another over in before close 🙄 pic.twitter.com/3Goknoe2n5
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2025
The commentators weren’t shy either. On JioStar Hindi, Deep Dasgupta and Padamjeet Sehrawat mocked Crawley, questioning where the ball had hit him and implying he was acting. Even Varun Aaron threw in a jab at England’s aggressive Bazball style, saying, “Kya hogaya Bazball ko?” But then, the replay came in, and it showed the ball had clipped Crawley’s fingertips. The commentary team immediately backtracked, with Sehrawat offering an on-air apology. It was a moment that reminded everyone just how fast emotions can cloud judgment during a Lord’s Test.
Why Was India So Desperate to Bowl Another Over?
To understand India’s frustration, we have to talk about how Test cricket works. Unlike limited-overs formats, Test matches are all about time. Each team bats twice over five days, and the goal is to take 20 wickets to win. But here’s the catch: there are only a limited number of overs per day, usually 90, and once stumps (end of play) is called, that’s it. You can’t reclaim lost time easily.
In this case, India had just bowled out England for 387, matching their own total. England’s second innings was just beginning. With barely ten minutes left in the day, India wanted to squeeze in two overs, hoping to take a quick wicket while the pitch was fresh and the light fading. That early wicket could shift momentum in their favor. So when Zak Crawley twice delayed play and called for the physio, India felt those precious minutes slipping away. To them, it looked like England were trying to “kill the clock”, a classic case of Time-Wasting Tactics in Test cricket.
Who Was Right? Let’s Break It Down
Here’s a quick comparison of how both sides likely saw the moment:
India’s Perspective
| Interpretation |
| Under time pressure to bowl 2 overs before stumps, they saw Crawley’s delay as deliberate. They were fired up and felt England was using Time-Wasting Tactics in Test cricket to avoid danger. |
England’s Perspective
| Interpretation |
| Crawley had a legit reason: a moving object near the sight screen and a stinging blow to the hand. With fading light and fast bowlers steaming in, taking a moment was reasonable. |
Commentators
| Interpretation |
| Jumped to conclusions based on live visuals, later corrected themselves after replay showed contact with Crawley’s glove. |
Umpires
| Interpretation |
| Let play continue, stepped in when tensions flared, and called stumps after one over, likely due to time/light. |
Gill’s Leadership Moment or Overreaction?
This incident was also a test for Shubman Gill, who’s recently taken over captaincy duties. His aggressive body language and verbal exchange drew comparisons to Virat Kohli’s infamous animated gesture at Lord’s back in 2021. Was it passion? Pressure? Overcompensation? Maybe a bit of everything. Some fans praised him for standing up and trying to take control. Others felt he crossed the line. That’s the tightrope modern captains walk, especially in high-stakes games like a Lord’s Test.
Final Thoughts
So, was Zak Crawley wasting time? Or was it just unfortunate timing? Probably both sides have a point. Time-Wasting Tactics in Test matches are a real issue. Players try to slow the game down when it benefits them, sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s strategic. But so is jumping to conclusions without all the info. This time, Zak Crawley wasn’t faking. The ball did hit him. India’s frustration, while understandable, ended up being slightly misdirected.
Still, this moment added spice to what was already a cracking Lord’s Test, and it reminded us of something crucial: Test cricket isn’t just about bat and ball; it’s about timing, perception, and human emotion. And honestly, that’s what makes it great.
Related Match
ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test of the India tour of England series on 07/10 at 03:30 PM IST
