During Day 1 of the high-stakes fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester, a seemingly innocuous action by England’s batter, Harry Brook, captured significant attention, in the so far closely contested Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Harry Brook sprints into slips between overs in hilarious bid to save time

Brook was observed sprinting energetically to his position in the slip cordon between overs, a vivid burst of movement across the field as he shifted ends. This highly visible moment, extensively broadcast and widely interpreted by fans and commentators alike, has been seen as a subtle yet pointed, tongue-in-cheek response to England’s recent penalty for a slow over-rate in the preceding Lord’s Test.

Brook’s exaggerated urgency at Old Trafford appeared to be more than just a display of enthusiasm; it was widely interpreted as England’s ‘silent protest’ a mocking jab rather than a genuine effort to save mere seconds. This action stems directly from England being docked two crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 10% of their match fee after the Lord’s Test for falling two overs short of the required rate, even after accounting for time allowances.

Here’s the video:

“DON’T BE LAST!” 💨

Harry Brook racing to his mark in the slips in between overs 😅 pic.twitter.com/j9AG1HHKDF

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 23, 2025

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Is Rishabh Pant fit to bat after injury for India in Manchester Test? Here’s what we know

Indian captain Shubman Gill questions spirit of the game after heated Test moment

Many within the England camp and among former cricketers believed the decision was harsh. Frustrations were further fueled by perceived delays from Indian batters, who reportedly took prolonged breaks between overs, and the inconsistency of the Duke’s ball, which had to be changed due to visible damage. This penalty caused England to slip from second to third place in the WTC standings, impacting their percentage from 66.67% to 61.11%.

The timing of Brook’s antics was particularly poignant, coming just a day after Indian captain Shubman Gill publicly criticized England’s batters for delaying their second innings start at Lord’s by ‘nearly 90 seconds’,  a delay Gill claimed was against the ‘spirit of the game’ and crucial as India could bowl just one over before stumps. Gill’s remarks, coupled with his verbal clash with Zak Crawley over time-wasting at Lord’s, created a simmering narrative, and Gill himself was greeted by boos from the Manchester crowd upon entering to bat.

Also READ: Fans mercilessly troll Shubman Gill over his dismissal on Day 1 of ENG vs IND fourth Test