The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has had its fair share of drama. Still, one of the most talked-about moments came during the final minutes of Day 3 in the Lord’s Test, when tensions flared between India skipper Shubman Gill and England opener Zak Crawley. What started as a minor delay quickly escalated into a verbal exchange, with Gill audibly snapping at Crawley, telling him to “grow some f***** b***s!” after the England batter called for the physio following a blow to the glove off Jasprit Bumrah’s delivery.
While Gill’s outburst initially appeared to be triggered by the interruption, he later clarified that his frustration stemmed from England’s deliberate time-wasting tactics. According to Gill, the England openers took the field 90 seconds late, cutting into valuable overs India hoped to squeeze in before stumps. “That’s not in the spirit of the game,” Gill reportedly remarked post-play, underlining India’s intent to press for a late breakthrough.
Zak Crawley, however, claimed innocence. “No, I wasn’t aware we were late. I was just waiting in my usual spot until the umpires walked out. As soon as I saw them go, I followed,” he said at the end of Day 2 of the Manchester Test, dismissing any deliberate wrongdoing.
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Despite the brief clash, Crawley revealed he relished the intensity of the moment. “That’s part of the fun in cricket. Two batters against eleven fielders trying everything to get you out—it’s exhilarating,” Crawley said. “It was fiery, but no one crossed the line. I thought it was just good, hard Test cricket, and I thoroughly enjoyed that eight-minute passage.”
Crawley’s spirited approach wasn’t limited to words. Under pressure after a lean run across the second and third Tests, the opener finally found his rhythm at Old Trafford. Chasing India’s first-innings total of 358, Crawley responded with a fluent 84 off 113 balls, laced with 13 boundaries and a six. His partnership of 166 runs with Ben Duckett gave England a solid foundation.
Reflecting on his innings, Crawley acknowledged his personal expectations. “I hold myself to high standards. I’ve been working hard, and though I haven’t delivered as much as I’d like over the past year, today felt like a reward. I would’ve liked to convert it into a hundred, but I’m glad the work’s paying off,” he said.
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He was also full of praise for Duckett, who fell just short of a century. “He’s an incredible stroke-maker. The way he scores at a run-a-ball takes pressure off me and allows us to rotate strike with ease. Our combination—right-left, tall-short—definitely makes it tough for bowlers to settle,” Crawley noted.
With the series heating up and players wearing their emotions on their sleeves, moments like these add to the theatre of Test cricket—a battle of skill, resilience, and character.
