'As a Fast Bowler, It’s Fun': Siraj Opens Up on Sledging Drama at Lord's

Sports News: The Lord's Test between India and England was a fiery competition between the two teams. Not with just the bat and ball; the two teams had a go at each other verbally as well. During the last minutes of day 3, India captain Shubman Gill was involved in a heated exchange with Zak Crawley. England opener Crawley was trying to waste some time during the only over he played against Jasprit Bumrah on day 3.

Because of this, the Indians got frustrated and lashed out at Crawley and his batting partner, Ben Duckett. Mohammed Siraj, in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Manchester test, has said that nothing of it was pre-planned, but it happened in the moment.

Not pre-planned; it happened in the moment

When asked about the heated altercation with the English batters, Siraj clarified that such things are not pre-planned but happen in the moment. “There’s no pre-planning. It happens in the moment. If a batter’s in the zone, you try to disturb him and get into his head. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But as a fast bowler, it’s fun.” The bowler did not hesitate in stating that it could happen in the fourth test too. “Maybe. Depends on the situation. A little bit of chatter can shake things up.”

What triggered the heated exchange?

After the scores were levelled in the first innings, there were six minutes remaining for India to bowl at England during the dying minutes of day 3. Six minutes means that a team can easily bowl two overs. But Crawley started wasting time, interrupting the bowler on various occasions. Gill then abused the batting duo, saying, "Grow some f*****g b***s."

On the next delivery, the batter got hit in his glove and asked for immediate treatment. Reacting to this, the whole of the Indian team gathered around the batters and started clapping tauntingly, which was again followed by an altercation.

Manchester awaits

After a tough defeat at Lord's, India would look to bounce back in the fourth test at Manchester, a venue where they have not won a single game in the Test format. India would now look to breach Old Trafford and make a roaring comeback in the five-match Anderson Tendulkar Trophy