Nasser Hussain slams ICC over Mohammed Siraj fine: ‘We don’t need 22 robots on the field’

Tensions ran high during the Lord’s Test between India and England, especially in the final moments of Day 3, when India grew visibly frustrated with England’s deliberate time-wasting tactics. The delay — as England's openers slowly made their way onto the field, appearing to lose their way in the Long Room — didn’t sit well with the Indian team. This led to a heated exchange between India’s captain Shubman Gill and opener Zak Crawley, which set the tone for a fiery remainder of the match. Ben Stokes also didn’t hold back, giving it back to India when they came out to bat the next day.
While stump mics picked up foul language and Gill was even seen making an obscene gesture, it was Mohammed Siraj who found himself in hot water after the match. The ICC fined Siraj for his celebration after dismissing Ben Duckett in England’s second innings, calling it "provocative" and suggesting it could have incited a reaction from the batter. The dismissal moment involved a minor shoulder clash between Siraj and Duckett, which stirred complaints from some English fans.
However, former England captain Nasser Hussain came to Siraj’s defense. Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket, Hussain said he didn’t believe Siraj deserved to be fined.
“One of the highlights of the match was how India went at Crawley. The England openers came out 90 seconds late — they were clever, slowly walking through the Long Room like they’d lost their way. India had every right to be fired up, and Siraj was in that zone,” Hussain said.
“I actually think Siraj plays better when he’s charged up. He was right in Duckett’s face, yes, but I don’t think it was a shoulder barge. If anything, Duckett moved that way to walk off the field. You want emotion in the game — not 22 robots. I love the tension.”
Siraj's match ended on a heartbreaking note. On the final day, while defending the last ball with soft hands, a sharp turn off the pitch sent the ball crashing onto his stumps. India lost by just 22 runs in a nail-biting finish at Lord’s.
Both Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to feature in the must-win fourth Test in Manchester. Trailing 2-1 in the series, India need a victory to stay alive in the contest for the series win.