"The 'Spoilt Child' Stokes, Gambhir's feud with Fortis, and other vital points in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy contest"
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The ongoing India-England Test series is marked by intense competition and frequent controversies, with player disputes and ball-related issues taking centre stage.
During the third Test at Lord’s, Indian captain Shubman Gill and pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed their frustration over the quality of the Dukes ball. The ball repeatedly failed the physical "ring test" due to extreme heat, leading to its replacement twice in quick succession. The new balls appeared older and less effective, stirring debate among players and commentators.
In addition to ball-related controversies, recent matches have also featured heated exchanges involving umpires and players. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena was publicly criticized for a questionable DRS call in the fifth Test. On one occasion, Dharmasena signaled that a ball struck an inside edge when England appealed for LBW against India’s Sai Sudharsan, which led England to withdraw their review prematurely.
Historically, the India-England Test series has been known for fierce competition and occasional run-ins between players and officials, often exacerbated by the Dukes ball’s unique characteristics that dominate English conditions.
Notable incidents include Shubman Gill yelling at a player during the Lord's Test, saying "Grow some f***ing balls!" and Siraj being fined for his animated send-off to Ben Duckett at Lord's. Rishabh Pant and Duckett also exchanged words, with Pant responding "Same like you?" to Duckett's question "Just batting for the draw?"
Other incidents include Jofra Archer knocking over Rishabh Pant with a cracking delivery at Lord's, and Akash Deep sharing a few words with Duckett after dismissing him, which raised eyebrows due to the Code of Conduct prohibiting inappropriate contact with the batter.
In a lighter moment, Mohammed Siraj mocked Joe Root with "Bazball, Bazball! Play Bazball, I want to see Bazball!" at Lord's. The series has also seen some verbal exchanges between players, such as Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse at Lord's during a run incident.
Head coach Brendon McCullum was caught on camera signalling from the balcony, urging his players to dial up the verbals at Lord's. The series has also seen some memorable moments, such as Ben Stokes attempting to bring proceedings to a premature end at Old Trafford, offering a handshake as the final hour began, but the Indian batters refused.
For cricket enthusiasts, the India-England Test series offers more than just intense competition. The series' website also provides quizzes related to the series, and live streaming details can be found on the site.
References:
[1] ESPN Cricinfo [2] Cricket.com.au [3] The Guardian [4] Cricbuzz
Sports debates and controversies have dominated the ongoing India-England Test series, with concerns about the quality of the Dukes ball frequently arising. The ball often fails the "ring test" due to extreme heat, leading to its replacement twice during the third Test at Lord’s. The new balls, though intended to address the issue, have been lamented as unresponsive by both players and commentators.
