The cricketing world witnessed a moment of controversy during the enthralling second Test match where India clinched a victory over England by a margin of 106 runs. The dismissal of Zak Crawley remained at the forefront of post-match discussions, especially with England’s captain Ben Stokes raising eyebrows over the reliability of technology used for the decision review system. The contentious episode unfolded in the 42nd over when left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav rapped Crawley’s pads, leading to an ambitious appeal for leg-before wicket.
Despite the initial refusal by the on-field umpire, the ardent plea from Yadav propelled the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, to signal for a review. While the first replay suggested that the ball had impacted outside the leg-stump, to the astonishment of spectators and players alike, the ball-tracking technology depicted a contrasting narrative – all reds flashing on the screen, indicating that the batsman was indeed leg-before-wicket. At this pivotal juncture with England reasonably poised at 194/4 and Crawley standing firm with an impressive 73, the dismissal changed the game’s complexion rapidly, catapulting India into a commanding position.
In the aftermath, a candid Stokes did not mince his words as he criticised the technological tools that played a role in sealing Crawley’s fate, openly denouncing the LBW decision as erroneous. “Zak Crawley’s LBW decision was the wrong one by the technology,” confidently stated the England skipper, amplifying the debate around the accuracy and reliability of such systems in the sport.
It’s important to contextualize this incident within the broader narrative of the match. England, in an audacious attempt, were chasing a formidable target of 399 runs to clinch victory in the second Test. The England batters had embarked on their run chase with noticeable aggression and optimism, counterattacking the Indian bowlers and maintaining a steady run-rate that kept them in contention. Stokes commended his team’s bravery and particularly highlighted the contributions from the somewhat inexperienced spin trio comprising Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Shoaib Bashir.
With palpable confidence in their ability to overcome the challenging target, Stokes, during the press meeting, elucidated on the team’s mindset leading into the final innings, “Coming into this last innings, had full belief in ourselves that we’ll chase it down.” He further admired the resolve displayed during ‘scoreboard pressure’ situations and reflected on the game as another remarkable experience. He emphasized the cricketers’ autonomy in decision-making amidst the game’s high demands, further adding, “Everyone in the dressing room is a quality player. They are good enough to go out there and assess the conditions, and decide how to go about it.”
Moreover, Stokes, who relishes his captaincy role, showered praise on his spinners for their composure and performance despite their lack of extensive international experience. The England captain accentuated their maturity, which in his view, transcended their years.
The aftermath of the match saw a surge in points for India in the World Test Championship 2023-25, thrusting them up three places in the rankings. In related events, the sporting gesture saw Shubman Gill apologizing to Kevin Pietersen post his century knock, while the England team, despite the setback, reflected a gallant spirit in pursuit of an elusive win.
This Test match, ensnared in debate and marked by competitive cricket, will undoubtedly be remembered for the dramatic turn of events it encapsulated, including the technological snag that cast a shadow over its conclusion. As both teams move forward from Vizag, the echoes of Crawley’s dismissal will linger, fuelling conversations on how cricket continues to grapple with the balance between human judgment and technological intervention.
