By Simon Wilkes
England captain Ben Stokes has warned India skipper Shubman Gill that his players are ready to meet fire with fire if required throughout the rest of the series this summer.
Stokes’ hosts lead the match-up 2-1 after winning a dramatic third Test at Lord’s, where Gill launched a verbal tirade at England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who he felt arrived late to the crease, with Crawley then seeking physio assistance and stepping away on several occasions.
That incident led to a series of spicy interactions between England and India players, who are currently locking horns in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Stoking the fire
Stokes faced the media before the fourth instalment of a thrilling series so far and told a press conference: “It’s not something we’re going to go out and purposefully look to start [an argument] because that will take our focus off what we need to do out in the middle.
“But by no means, we are not going to take a backward step and let any opposition try and be confrontational towards us and not try to give a bit back.
“I think that goes for most teams, so it is not like we are the only team who does that.”
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The right manner
England batter Harry Brook stood firmly behind his skipper, saying coach Brendon McCullum is happy for them to lose their ‘nice guys’ tag in this series.
The Yorkshire star told the press: “The opportunity that arose for us to not be the nice guys was because of what they did [to Crawley and Duckett].
“We were doing it within the spirit of the game. We weren’t going out there effing and jeffing at them and being nasty people. We were just going about it in the right manner.”
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Gill not proud
Gill also faced the press, and although he admitted some regret at his actions, he claimed England’s actions had triggered his ‘emotional’ reactions.
The India captain told Sky Sports: “I wouldn’t say it’s something I’m very proud of, but there was a lead-up and build-up to that – it didn’t just come out of nowhere.
“We had no intention of doing that whatsoever but you’re playing a game, you’re playing to win, and there are a lot of emotions.
“When you see there are things happening that should not happen, sometimes emotions come out of nowhere.”
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Clearing the air
Gill added: “A lot of people have been talking about it, so let me just clear the air once and for all.
“The English batsmen on that day had seven minutes of play left; they were 90 seconds late to come to the crease. Not 10, not 20 – 90 seconds late.
“Yes, most of the teams use this. Even if we were in this position, we would have liked to play fewer overs, but there’s a manner to do it.
“If you get hit on your body, the physios are allowed to come on, and that is something that is fair.
“But to be able to come 90 seconds late to the crease is not something that comes in the spirit of the game.”
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