Former England captain Nasir Hussain has slammed the decision of Team India captain Shubman Gill to change the ball at 2 on the day of the third Test at Lord’s on Friday, 11 July. Hussain also said that India should not request a ball change, called “one of the most bizarre decisions”.
India opted for the second new ball during the final session at day 1 after 80.1 overs. However, the ball was later converted into just 10.3 overs on the second day. Shubman Gill appeared disappointed with the replacement ball and engaged in a long, animated conversation with the umpire.
It was doing more at any level – Nasar Hussain
Nasir Hussain admitted that he was amazed by Shubman Gill’s animated response when the umpires initially refused to change the ball. Hussain reported that Jasprit Bumrah was in the top form with the second new ball, which was behaving better from any other point in the match.
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“The ball was doing everything this morning. The ball she had for 63 delivery was zip around the corners. Bumrah was passing through a magic of magic, Siraj was falling on the other end,” Hussain said on commentary for Sky Sports (via Neefusion/X),
He said, “The ball was taken through the wicketkeeper. It was doing all this. It was doing more than any stage in the Test match. I can’t do that you want to change a ball that was doing so,” he said.
BCCI’s dirty and dirty * strategy * is getting beltd pic.twitter.com/b1ae7lkhkd
– Arnold (@neyfiction) July 11, 2025
This was one of the most bizarre decisions – Nasar Hussain on Shubman Gill
Nasir Hussain said that India decided to change the ball after just 63 delivery, called it “one of the most bizarre decisions”. The cricketer-turn-commentator said that Duke Balls may be unexpected, and the captain should live with one when it is performing well.
“Zipping around 63 balls. Not only did they want to change, but the captain (Shubman Gill) really became animated when he did not change it. I felt it was one of the most bizarre decisions,” Hussain continued.
“You have got a ball in your hand that is doing a lot. We all know that these Duke balls are variable. I thought it is really a strange thing. To get a one, B, then really animated and C for India, now we have not got the ‘ball’ to say that don’t change well.”
Jaspreet Bumrah uncontrolled with second new ball of 2 days
Jasprit Bumrah was inaccessible with the second new ball on the morning of day 2. He took three wickets in a span of just 14 delivery. During the 91st over, Mohammad Siraj and Shubman Gill approached the umpire that the ball was out of size.
The umpires changed the ball after not passing through the gauge. However, the new ball lost size after just 48 delivery and had to change it again. England were dismissed for 387 in their first innings.
Bumrah was a pick of bowlers with five wickets for India, while Joe Root brought his eighth exam to Lord’s to the century. By the end of day 2, India was 145 for 3, KL Rahul (53) and Rishabh Pant (19) at the crease.
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