How Shubman Gill's aggression forced England's shift in attitude? Ben Stokes-Jofra Archer comment

Day 3's confrontation between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley

There was a great deal of drama and entertainment in the third Test between India and England at Lord's. It appeared that anyone could win the match, which hung by a thread until Day 5. However, the game, which was also full of player altercations, finished with the home team winning by 22 runs.

Day 3's confrontation between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley was the most noteworthy. Crawley, who started England's second innings, attempted to stall the action in the closing minutes before Stumps. Gill wanted his pacers to bowl two overs in the dim dusk light, but Crawley didn't allow that to happen. When Jasprit Bumrah was bowling India's opening over of the second innings, Crawley caused several disruptions and there was an altercation. Crawley pulled out of his stance for the third ball after taking a double off the second.

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As he grumbled about the sight screen, Gill yelled: "Grow a pair" and made an obscene gesture from second slip, which was picked by the stump microphone. The entire Indian squad became enraged when Crawley was hit in the glove during the over's penultimate ball and promptly called for the physiotherapist. However, this made Gill even more frustrated. He walked directly towards the English opener, pointed to the pavilion, and engaged in an intense argument. Crawley didn't hold back either, which prompted Ben Duckett to intervene and separate the duo.

Following the victory, England captain Ben Stokes spoke out about the incident. “When you're watching your two opening batters go out there for an over, and you're seeing 11 guys all come at [them], that's going to bring out another side.”

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Following Mohammed Siraj's dismissal, Stokes also showed class by comforting the pacer. Stokes also embraced Ravindra Jadeja, who scored an unbeaten half-century.

Jofra Archer asserted following the game that England's character shifted on Day 4. “We all came together as a group and said, 'we're a bit too nice'”, the speedster noted. “When we go to other places, some teams aren't as nice to us as we are to them. I guess we just tried to shift it,” he added.