PULL OUT OF ORDER

Willey accuses Indians after they bailed on deliveries

ENGLAND have slammed India’s bowlers for bailing out of their run-ups in Manchester, suggesting it is against the spirit of the game.

After just one match, tempers between the sides have already flared and England all-rounder David Willey has welcomed more of the same ahead of the second.

So much for the IPLinspired love-in that Virat Kohli thought would be a hallmark of this series.

Willey, who played with MS Dhoni at CSK, was annoyed by the way Bhuvneshwar Kumar stopped in his delivery stride in the final over when the batsman was looking to move around in his crease.

The same thing happened when danger spinner Kuldeep Yadav (above) did it twice to Jos Buttler earlier in the innings and the England man was visibly frustrated.

It is all part of the drama of the game when batsmen and bowlers are trying to outfox each other, especially towards the end of an innings – but Willey wasn’t impressed.

“I’m guessing, but I think Kumar was looking to see what I was going to do,” said Willey. “They did that a few times.

“The spinners did it a couple of times. I’m not sure what the rules are on that, but I don’t think it is necessarily in the spirit of cricket. Personally, I don’t think I would do that.”

Naturally, the Indians have a different view on the tactics their bowlers used, with century-maker KL Rahul all for it, even though it would get under his skin too.

“It would frustrate me as a batsman,” Rahul admitted.

“It did, I guess, frustrate English batsmen, but the margin for error for bowlers in T20 cricket is very little, so whatever tactics they can come up with and whatever they try to do to upset the batsmen is only fair.” Kumar had been wound up by a couple of wides being given off his bowling and, when he pulled out, he confronted a clearly annoyed Willey, who waved him away to go back to his mark, prompting both Dhoni and Kohli to back up their bowler.

Willey is no shrinking violet either, so Friday night’s clash could be lively in more ways than one. “They have a few fiery characters and that is part and parcel of cricket,” Willey added. “It has gone on for years.

“I don’t mind a bit of confrontation. I have had my fair share of it in the past.

“If it comes my way, I am quite happy to get involved.”