The fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford is heating up — and not just because of the cricket.
Off the pitch, player comments, injury debates, and even fan logistics have added layers of drama to an already tense series.
As Day Three kicks off, here’s a look at the biggest talking points.
Zak Crawley Fires Back at Shubman Gill’s Accusation
England opener Zak Crawley isn’t having any of Shubman Gill’s criticism.
Ahead of the match, the Indian skipper called Crawley out for allegedly breaching the “spirit of the game” by delaying play during the third Test at Lord’s.
According to Gill, Crawley and Ben Duckett took too long to reach the crease — arriving 90 seconds late — which infuriated the Indian side.
Tensions boiled over when Crawley later asked for medical attention after being hit on the glove by Jasprit Bumrah, just as play was winding down for the day.
Crawley denied any wrongdoing: “I sit in my spot until the umpires go out. I wasn’t aware we were late.”
But he did cheekily add that he enjoyed the eight-minute scramble of drama, which likely didn’t help ease tensions.
That brief but chaotic session meant India could only bowl one over before close of play, further fueling their frustration.
Rishabh Pant’s Pain Sparks Debate Over Injury Subs
Should Test cricket allow injury substitutes beyond concussions? That’s the question making the rounds after Rishabh Pant batted with a fractured foot — and still managed to notch up a half-century.
India’s Shardul Thakur weighed in, saying the International Cricket Council’s plan to trial broader injury subs in domestic matches this October is fine — but changes at the Test level should wait until the current World Test Championship cycle ends in 2027.
Thakur also praised Pant’s determination: “Yes, he was in a lot of pain, but we’ve seen him do amazing things for the team — and this was just another example.”
Pant’s injury created a unique situation, too — backup keeper Dhruv Jurel ended up wicketkeeping across three innings in a single series, despite never officially being part of India’s playing XI.
Lancashire Throws Shade After Opening Day Chaos
If you were one of the thousands who missed the start of Day One due to massive queues at Old Trafford, Lancashire’s social media post on Thursday might have felt a little passive-aggressive.
After fans complained about long delays, the club posted a message thanking Thursday’s crowd for “arriving early and prepared.”
This came just a day after blaming the delay on nearly 9,000 supporters showing up “very late.”
Thankfully, the match action made up for the drama — Ben Stokes lit up the ground with his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, much to the delight of those who did manage to get in on time.
Ricky Ponting Regrets the Beers That Started It All
It’s been 20 years since one of the more bizarre Ashes moments — and former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting is finally admitting it might not have been the team’s best look.
After beating England at Lord’s in the opening Test of the 2005 Ashes, the Australian team — perhaps a little too merry — crashed the English dressing room and belted out their team song.
Ponting now says: “Looking back, I wish we hadn’t had as many beers before we went down there.”
That drunken celebration stayed under wraps for over a decade, only surfacing in the documentary Forged in Fire.
But as England went on to win the historic series 2-1, captain Michael Vaughan had the last word: “There’s a karma in sport, isn’t there?”
Rehan Ahmed Joins Elite Company with Standout All-Round Display
Move over Liam Dawson — England may have found their next big all-rounder in 20-year-old Rehan Ahmed.
Dawson was the last English player to score a hundred and take 10 wickets in the same first-class match, a feat he managed last year.
But now Ahmed has matched that rare double with a career-best performance for Leicestershire against Derbyshire.
Not only did he score a century in the first innings, but he also ripped through the opposition with figures of 6 for 51 and followed up by taking all four second-innings wickets to fall.
With Ashes ambitions on the horizon, Ahmed is quickly making a name for himself — and possibly knocking on England’s Test door.
What’s Next for This Test Series?
With tensions simmering and personal battles flaring up alongside team clashes, the rest of this five-match series promises fireworks.
As the England-India rivalry deepens, so do the questions — about sportsmanship, player welfare, and who’s ready to step up when it matters most.
Stay tuned.
