The ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series has been defined by its fiercely competitive spirit, with the on-field battle often extending into heated verbal exchanges. This trend escalated dramatically on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, where multiple confrontations became the major talking points. While India’s bowlers fought hard to claw their way back into the game, a series of contentious incidents, including an unusual send-off from Akash Deep and a fiery exchange involving Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna, have intensified the rivalry and sparked a broader discussion about on-field decorum.
Trescothick slams ‘strange’ send-off by Akashdeep to Ben Duckett as tensions escalate
The most prominent controversy of Day 2 centered on a peculiar and highly criticized send-off by Indian pacer Akash Deep to England opener Ben Duckett. After dismissing Duckett, who had reportedly been goading him with comments like “you can’t get me out,” Akash Deep’s celebration was far from standard. He walked a few steps with the departing batter, placing an arm around his shoulder in a gesture that was seen as both mocking and provocative. This action drew sharp condemnation from England’s assistant coach, Marcus Trescothick, who called it ‘strange’ and ‘unnecessary,’
In a post-day press conference, Trescothick voiced his disapproval, stating, “There is no need to walk him off in that fashion. Your job is done at that point. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out. It was strange really.” The former England batter even joked about the potential reaction of players in his era, suggesting that such a gesture might have been met with an “elbow.”
“I was just saying, many in my time, a lot of players, would have just dropped the elbow on him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out. I was just laughing and joking about it,” Trescothick concluded.
While Trescothick played down the incident as all part of the game, his comments, along with criticism from other pundits like Ricky Ponting, have highlighted a growing concern about the thin line between competitive banter and disrespectful conduct.
Also READ: ENG vs IND: Would have punched Akash Deep for Ben Duckett-like send off, admits Ricky Ponting
Prasidh Krishna vs Joe Root and a livid KL Rahul with umpire Kumar Dharmasena
The tension at The Oval wasn’t limited to Akash Deep. In a separate incident that escalated into a full-blown argument, Indian pacer Krishna got into a heated verbal spat with a usually calm Root. Prasidh, in his post-match comments, admitted that the exchange was part of a premeditated strategy to get under the opposition’s skin, stating, While the exact words are unknown, Prasidh’s remark that Root “looked in great shape” triggered an uncharacteristically fiery response from the former England captain, prompting the on-field umpires to intervene.
This incident, however, took another turn when a visibly incensed KL Rahul confronted umpire Kumar Dharmasena to defend his teammate. In a heated exchange caught on camera, Rahul questioned the umpire’s intervention, asking, “What do you want us to do? Just bat and ball and go home?” Dharmasena, in turn, sternly warned Rahul about his tone and promising to discuss the matter after the game. This clash between player and umpire, along with the other on-field altercations, serves as a testament to the high stakes of the series and the combative mindset of the Indian team, who are desperately fighting to level the score at 2-2.
Also READ: ENG vs IND: Prasidh Krishna explains his verbal duel with Joe Root on Day 2 of the Oval Test
