ENG vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah, Mark Wood and Jos Buttler involved in heated conversation at Lord's

A gripping day’s contest unfurled in the second Test between England and India on Day 4, which left the game tantalizingly poised going into the final day. With the second new ball due and Rishabh Pant in the middle alongside Ishant Sharma, most eyes were transfixed on the riveting battle of the maverick Indian keeper and England’s new-ball bowlers, especially James Anderson.

The much-anticipated battle, however, did not last too long, with Pant nicking an Ollie Robinson delivery behind to Jos Buttler early on Day 5 to walk back for 22. Robinson soon struck again, pinning Ishant Sharma lbw to reduce India to 209/8. If the mind thought that to be the end of interesting matchups, given all of India’s recognized batters were back in the hut, everyone was in for a bit of surprise as some interesting battle between India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Mark Wood started brewing soon.

Notably, Bumrah had launched a nasty short ball barrage against James Anderson towards the end of the third day, after England had just surpassed India’s first-innings tally of 364. Visibly frustrated after he was hit on the helmet and a blow on his ribs, Anderson had a mouthful for Bumrah as the team’s walked back post stumps. It was not, therefore, surprising to see Wood avenging that and using a similar, relentless short ball ploy against the Indian tail.

Virat Kohli lauds the wagging tail

Bumrah had to withstand a blow on his helmet as Wood cranked up the pace and dug one short in the 93rd over after he was dispatched for a boundary on the opening delivery of the same over. The tempers flared soon as Bumrah was seen pointing fingers during a heated conversation with Jos Buttler, where Joe Root and Mohammed Shami joined later before the umpires separated the players.

The uncharacteristic tail-wag from India had the entire dressing room on the feet, including the skipper Kohli, who was seen vehemently applauding every run. Notably, the Indian skipper was himself involved in a bit of a heated exchange with Anderson on Day 4, after the latter ran on the obstructed part of the pitch in his follow-through.