India's Time-Wasting Complaints Unjustified, Says England Coach

England's bowling coach Tim Southee has stated that India had no grounds to protest against England's time-wasting tactics during the dramatic conclusion of the third day of the third Test at Lord's. The comments came after India's players expressed frustration over delays caused by England's Zak Crawley, who repeatedly interrupted play and called for a physio after being struck on the finger.

Crawley's actions ensured that he and fellow opener Ben Duckett only faced one over before the day's close, rather than the scheduled two. India's captain Shubman Gill was visibly upset, gesturing angrily and shouting expletives at Crawley. Southee, however, pointed out that India had engaged in similar tactics earlier in the match, including when Gill received a mid-day massage while fielding.

"It's always exciting to see both sides animated towards the end," Southee remarked. "I'm not sure what they were complaining about when Shubman was lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday. It's obviously part of the game."

The controversy unfolded after India was bowled out for 387, matching England's first-innings total. Crawley and Duckett came out to bat with just five minutes remaining, a period that should have allowed for two overs. However, delays in the first over, including Crawley stepping away from the crease multiple times, reduced the time available. Sky Sports even apologized for Gill's language during the heated exchange.

India's KL Rahul expressed disappointment, stating, "We were hoping we could get a wicket there, and a wicket at the end of the day's play would have been perfect for us."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Crawley's tactics, calling it "as good a piece of time-wasting I've ever seen." He added that neither team could complain, given their own delays earlier in the match. Sir Alastair Cook highlighted the drama as a necessary spark for the closely contested series, which is tied at 1-1.

The Test has been marked by frequent stoppages, including a lengthy delay on day two when Gill received treatment for a back issue. As the series heads into its fourth and fifth days, the tension between the teams promises to make for an exciting conclusion.