High Drama at Lord’s: Shubman Gill Lashes Out at Umpires

The poor quality of the Dukes ball once again became a hot topic during Day 2 of the third India vs England Test match on Friday. On Day 2 of the 3rd Test, the Indian captain, Shubman Gill, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were seen having a heated conversation with the on-field umpires about the change of the ball.

The second new ball was taken at the 80-over mark on Thursday. The morning session started going India's way with Jasprit Bumrah picking up three wickets in quick succession. However, the Indian team was clearly unhappy with the condition of the ball. The umpires eventually decided to change the ball after it failed the “hoop test,” which checks if the ball is out of shape. But the replacement ball caused even more drama.

Shubman Gill Angry at Umpire in Lord's Test

After the ball was replaced, it did very little movement as compared to the previous ball. Immediately, Siraj understood the situation and showed his frustration to Shubman Gill, who walked up to the umpire and expressed his anger. He was seen snatching the ball from the umpire’s hands during the conversation. Mohammed Siraj, who was also upset, was caught on the stump mic saying, “This is a 10-overs old ball? Seriously?”

The situation got tense, and Shubman Gill got into the act. He seemed to be furious at the umpire for changing the ball to something that hardly did anything. Shubman Gill umpire reaction at Lords prompted a highly tense situation at the ground.

The situation quickly drew attention, and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar also supported the players’ complaint. “Even from here, you can see that is not a 10-over-old ball. That is like a 20-over-old ball,” Gavaskar said from the commentary box. Gavaskar clearly supported Shubman Gill angry reaction at the umpire.

Rishabh Pant Comment on Dukes Ball

This is not the first time that players have complained about the Dukes ball in this series. Before the third Test, India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant had also criticised the quality of the ball being used. He said the red ball has been going out of shape far too often.

He also explained how this affects the game. When the ball gets softer, it stops doing much in the air or off the pitch. This makes it hard for bowlers to challenge the batters. “Every ball plays differently. When it becomes softer, sometimes it’s not doing too much. But as soon as they change the ball, it’s starting to do enough,” said Pant.

"As a batsman, you’ve got to keep on adjusting to it. But at the same time, I feel it’s not good for cricket anyway,” he added. Rishabh Pant dukes ball comment raised questions over its quality.

The Dukes ball is known for helping swing bowlers, especially in English conditions. But in this series, many balls have gone out of shape within a few overs. Players from both sides have repeatedly asked the umpires to change the ball during matches.

The frequent ball changes and inconsistent behaviour of the ball are affecting the flow of the game. The bowlers are getting help only with the brand-new ball, while batters are enjoying playing on easier conditions once it gets soft.

With so many complaints already in this series, the ball manufacturer and cricket authorities may need to take a closer look at the quality of the Dukes ball being used. The third Test match continues at the Lord’s, but the ball controversy has once again taken the spotlight.