Trott Criticizes Gill’s Conduct During Test Match

LONDON: Jonathan Trott, the former England cricketer, has criticized Indian captain Shubman Gill’s behavior towards Zak Crawley during the third Test at Lord’s, labeling it as setting a negative precedent.

During the third day of the Lord’s Test, Trott addressed British media and subtly alluded to Virat Kohli’s on-field demeanor, noting his reputation for intense competitiveness.

Trott stated, “There’s a level of gamesmanship, but it’s unclear what transpired while England were fielding. I am not a fan of Shubman Gill’s actions.”

Trott voiced his disapproval, suggesting that actions that could incite confrontation during a match should be avoided.

He elaborated, “I believe that as captain, one establishes the standard. As I’ve mentioned previously, pointing fingers and being overly confrontational, similar to a past captain who aggressively engaged with the opposition, is not ideal.”

The 44-year-old emphasized that Gill’s approach was unsuitable and that such behavior is not acceptable during a match.

He further commented that during a game, players should maintain a broader perspective.

“I don’t think that’s what the sport should embody. It creates an unfavorable atmosphere. While I support competitiveness and resilience on the field, there are times when one must exercise restraint,” Trott concluded.

It’s worth noting that Gill and Zak Crawley were involved in a tense exchange towards the end of day three, with Gill accusing the England opener of deliberately wasting time to prevent India from bowling another over.

With only six minutes remaining before the end of play, India aimed to bowl two additional overs. However, Crawley took more than a minute to prepare after the umpires signaled the resumption of play.

Crawley then interrupted Bumrah’s run-up twice, initially stating he wasn’t ready and subsequently citing movement behind the sight screen.

During the final over, Gill strongly urged Crawley to cease wasting time and confront the bowling with determination.

Following Crawley being struck on the hand and requesting medical attention, several Indian fielders approached him, heightening the tension of the moment.