ENG vs IND: 3 controversial moments from Test Series
The just-concluded rescheduled fifth Test match saw England decimate India by seven wickets in what was their highest-ever run chase in red-ball cricket. The contest witnessed many moments like Jasprit Bumrah clobbering Stuart Broad for 35 runs in an over, skipper Ben Stokes and Joe Root’s purple finger celebrations, etc.
However, the contest also had its fair share of controversial moments which gained a lot of attention in the last five days. More importantly, the hard-fought series which ended at 2-2 was in the news for some or the other wrong reasons. Without further ado, here’s a look at three of them.
3. Verbal spat between Virat Kohli and James Anderson
This took place during the Lord’s Test match in August last year. Veteran English pacer James Anderson was upset after being attacked by Jasprit Bumrah’s bouncer barrage in the first innings. Nonetheless, his move to instigate Virat Kohli was a bad one.
During the 17th over of India’s second innings Kohli was upset after seeing Anderson running on the pitch he warned the latter before an argument started and the batting megastar seemed to have had enough and retorted, “You swearing at me are you? This isn’t your f******g’ backyard”.
2. Jasprit Bumrah vs Jos Buttler
Just a day after tempers flared between Virat Kohli and James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah and Jos Buttler were involved in a heated exchange. While the reason behind this was unknown, a timely intervention from the on-field umpire prevented things from escalating further.
The spat charged up Bumrah as he scored an unbeaten 34 and was involved in a match-winning 89-run stand with Mohammed Shami (56*) for the 10th wicket.
- Virat Kohli vs Jonny Bairstow
This was arguably the biggest controversy of the England-India Test series. This happened on the third day of the rescheduled fifth Test match. The hosts were reeling at 83/5 as Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow were under pressure. Bairstow was under pressure to such an extent that he resorted to defensive tactics.
Suddenly he and Virat Kohli were seen having an argument where the latter asked him to shut up and bat. The statement from Kohli might have triggered Johnny in a positive manner that he started counter-attacking the Indian bowlers by dealing with boundaries and went on to score a brilliant 106 that eventually powered the Three Lions to a respectable total of 284 in the first innings.
