The England camp has responded to India captain Shubman Gill's accusations of time-wasting during the Lord's Test, adding fuel to an already fiery contest. The controversy erupted on the third evening after England were bowled out, leaving India with time to face a tricky couple of overs before the close of play. England opener Zak Crawley's actions in the final over, including pulling out of his stance multiple times and calling for the physio after seemingly minor contact with his glove, drew the ire of Gill and the Indian team.

Gill's frustration was palpable, with stump microphones capturing his angry words, leading to an on-air apology from Sky Sports. Tensions further escalated as Crawley and Gill exchanged words, joined by Ben Duckett, before the umpires intervened. England's social media team appeared to make light of the situation, posting footage of the final over with a caption that further stoked the flames.

England's bowling consultant, Tim Southee, suggested a hint of hypocrisy in India's complaints, pointing to instances earlier in the match where Indian players had seemingly delayed play. He alluded to Gill receiving a massage on the field during England's innings and Washington Sundar taking a comfort break while batting. Southee defended Crawley's actions as part of the game and said that it was exciting to see both sides animated.

Adding another layer to the controversy, the condition of the Dukes ball has been a constant talking point throughout the series. Both teams have voiced concerns about the ball losing its shape prematurely, leading to frequent replacements. During the Lord's Test, a ball change on the second day sparked heated exchanges between Gill and the umpires. The umpires changed the second new ball after just 63 balls because it was out of shape.

Former England captain Joe Root has weighed in on the ball change issue, suggesting a rule where each team gets a limited number of "challenges" to request a ball change per innings. Root stated that teams need to adapt and stop complaining and described that only three requests for a ball change every 80 overs must be entertained by the umpires. He also downplayed the significance of the ball changes, viewing it as a dynamic element of the game.

Former England captain Mike Atherton has criticized the umpires for losing control of the match, citing the numerous ball changes and the decision to allow Gill to receive on-field treatment. Atherton argued that Gill should have been instructed to leave the field for treatment to avoid disrupting the game. Nasser Hussain also critized India for wanting to change the ball, especially since Jasprit Bumrah was bowling well.