England vs India: Pacers Mohammed Siraj and James Anderson involved in a verbal spat on Day 3

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and England legend James Anderson were involved in a bit of verbal tussle on Day 3 of the opening Test of the five-match Pataudi Trophy at Trent Bridge.

The incident occurred during the second session when the Indian lower-order was scripting a stunning rearguard action after India had endured a minor blip on the previous day, losing four wickets – Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane – in quick succession to squander a stellar 97-run opening start.

During the 84th over of the innings, England skipper Joe Root, in a bid to dismiss the wagging tail, handed the ball to veteran Anderson, who mouthed a few words after Siraj swung and missed to connect a delivery. Not budging down, the Indian pacer responded as he went towards Anderson and brushed his shoulder against him before Anderson walked away to deliver the next ball.

Mohammed Siraj sledging Jimmy Anderson 😂 #ENGvsIND #Anderson #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/YlnVLPyPxP

— Ashwani Pratap Singh (@Ashwani45singh) August 6, 2021

India marginally ahead at the end of Day 3

The opening contest has been hit by rain, with play being suspended well before the scheduled close of play on both days two and three. After tumbling England out on 183 on Day 1, India were provided with a solid start by openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, who came close to ending a decade-long overseas century partnership drought of the Indian openers, however, Ollie Robinson dismissed the latter to cut that stand short at 97.

James Anderson’s twin strikes, as he removed both Pujara and Kohli on successive deliveries, before Ajinkya Rahane’s run-out messed up things for India, although a returning, unfazed KL Rahul guarded India’s fort and was helped in no small cause by fellow half-centurion Ravindra Jadeja before a stunning, uncharacteristic lower-order rearguard took India to a crucial 95 run lead. Rahul top-scored with 84 off 214 while Jadeja smashed a crucial 56 from 86, followed by Jasprit Bumrah’s breezy 34-ball 28, which included a notable counterattack against Sam Curran.

In response to India’s 278, England openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley took the team to 25 for no loss, when the heavens opened up once again, allowing no further play possible, with two days left in the Test.