Day 3 of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s began with early tension — not from the bat or ball, but from a heated exchange between England pacer Jofra Archer and the on-field umpire over the condition of the ball. The incident unfolded in the 45th over of India’s innings, shortly after Rishabh Pant nudged a full delivery off Archer into the mid-wicket region and scampered for a single.
Clearly unhappy with the shape or behaviour of the ball, Archer walked straight to the umpire and appealed for a change. He insisted the ball had gone out of shape. However, the umpire, following protocol, pulled out the ring gauge to inspect.
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As the ball passed comfortably through the standard gauge, the appeal was denied. Archer’s frustration was obvious as he tried to demonstrate how the ball was behaving erratically, but the official stood firm.
“Here we go Ath, just to wind you up” 😅🔊 pic.twitter.com/WfR2StcFTK
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 12, 2025
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first ball-related dispute of the Test. On Day 2, India captain Shubman Gill was also seen arguing animatedly with the umpires about the quality of the replacement ball. Eventually, that ball was changed — and in this case, too, Archer’s concerns weren’t ignored for long. Just 11 overs later, during the drinks break, the ball was finally replaced and handed to Chris Woakes, with Joe Root polishing it diligently before Ben Stokes resumed bowling.
Meanwhile, India had their scare when Rishabh Pant appeared to aggravate his left index finger injury. After removing his glove, he signalled for the physio, raising concerns in the Indian camp. However, after a quick check-up, he received the green light to proceed.
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Pant’s fighting spirit was on display as he reached his fifty, while KL Rahul inched closer to his century. India, however, still trailed by 165 runs, chasing England’s first-innings total of 387. The duo’s resilience is proving vital after the early loss of captain Shubman Gill, who fell cheaply for 16. As the match unfolds, the tension continues to mount, with both bat and ball under scrutiny.
