England opener Zak Crawley has responded calmly to Shubman Gill’s claim that he and fellow batter Ben Duckett arrived 90 seconds late to the crease in the third Test at Lord’s, clarifying that any delay was unintentional.

Addressing the media after the second day of the fourth Test in Manchester, Crawley explained that he remained in the dressing room until he saw the umpires walk out, following what he believed to be standard procedure.

While acknowledging Gill’s concerns, Crawley maintained that the situation was a misunderstanding rather than a breach of protocol. He reaffirmed his respect for the match officials and the spirit of the game.

ENG vs IND, 4th TEST DAY 2 SCORECARD | HIGHLIGHTS

“No, it wasn’t intentional. I sit in my spot until the umpires go out. I walked out when I saw them go. I wasn’t aware we were 90 seconds late, but fair enough,” Crawley said.

‘I love batting with Ben Duckett’

Day 2 saw England seize the momentum at Old Trafford, thanks to a rapid-fire opening stand of 166 runs between Ben Duckett (94) and Crawley (84). The pair scored at over five runs per over across just 32 overs, putting India on the back foot early.

The century opening partnership was only the fifth for Duckett and Crawley in 53 Test innings together. Duckett blazed his way to 94 off around 100 balls, while Crawley impressed with a composed 84, handling the seaming conditions with confidence and style.

On their partnership, Crawley said, “I love batting with him. He’s a phenomenal player. He scores effortlessly — today, almost a run-a-ball — and that takes pressure off me. We communicate well in the middle, and with our left-right combo and height difference, I’m sure it’s tricky for bowlers when we’re both going.”

By the close of play, England had reached 225 for two, narrowing the gap to just 133 runs behind India’s first-innings total of 358.

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