On Day 3 of the third Test match between England and India at Lord’s, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar voiced his extreme displeasure of England’s fielding plan.
When England set an exceptionally heavy leg-side field during the first session, with up to seven fielders on the leg side while KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were batting, Sunil Gavaskar was clearly angry.
Even though the English bowlers weren’t always utilising short-pitched deliveries, Sunil Gavaskar compared the strategy to “bodyline” bowling because it was constrictive and seemed to be intended to limit scoring possibilities. He maintained that such strategies were against the spirit of the game and urged ICC Men’s Cricket Committee head Sourav Ganguly to take action to prevent the game from deviating from fair play.
“That is absolutely not cricket. According to NDTV Sports, Gavaskar stated, “Please make sure that there are six fielders on the leg side the next time. Sourav Ganguly, the head of the ICC cricket committee, is listening to this.”
KL On Day 3 of the third Test match against England at Lord’s, India reached 248 for four at lunchtime, bringing Rahul one step closer to a well-earned century. Alongside Rishabh Pant, who struck a brilliant 74 before being run out in the last over before the break thanks to a bull’s eye toss from English captain Ben Stokes, the star opener, who was still undefeated at 98, led India through the first session.
Rahul and Pant resumed their partnership as India started the day at 145 for three. With 103 runs added in the morning session, the pair maintained a steady pace on the scoreboard. After England scored 387 runs in the first innings, their efforts assisted India in cutting the gap to 139 runs.
Rahul played a number of entertaining drives and flicks and remained calm and graceful throughout his knock, but his most memorable moment was when he hit Brydon Carse with a clean back-foot punch through the covers.
Conversely, Pant brought his usual intensity to the fold. With a hooked six over deep fine leg off England captain Ben Stokes, he reached his half-century. In Test cricket, he also smashed his 88th six, surpassing Rohit Sharma to become India’s second-highest six-hitter, only surpassed by Virender Sehwag.
However, a crucial stand with Rahul came to an end just before the half when Stokes brilliantly hit Pant at the non-striker’s end, dismissing him. India finished the session strongly despite losing Pant, and with Rahul on the verge of a well-earned century, they will aim to improve even more in the post-lunch phase.
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