James Anderson Reveals What He Said In Heated Clash With Shubman Gill During England Loss To India

England veteran James Anderson removes India's Shubman Gill for his 699th Test wicket — England veteran James Anderson removed Shubman Gill for his 699th Test wicket (Picture: Getty)

James Anderson has lifted the lid on the heated altercation he shared with Shubman Gill during England’s humbling fifth Test defeat to India in Dharamsala.

Already holding an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, hosts India stormed to their fourth successive victory, winning by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, to send England packing with their tails between their legs.

There was one moment to remember for England on the final morning of their gruelling tour, though, as veteran seamer Anderson, 41, removed Kuldeep Yadav to take his tally to 700 wickets in Test cricket.

The previous afternoon, Anderson dismissed Gill for 110 to take him to within one wicket of the incredible milestone, with only Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australian icon Shane Warne (708) above the Lancashire swing bowler in the history books.

Shortly before Gill’s stunning innings was brought to an end, Gill exchanged a few choice words with Anderson in the middle and the India batsman refused to elaborate on the details of the conversation when quizzed after his side’s win.

‘I think it would be better for both of us to keep that chat private,’ he said.

However, when Jonny Bairstow came out to bat in England’s second innings, the stump mic caught the England wicket-keeper-batter asking Gill exactly what he had said to the legendary England man.

Jonny Bairstow’s exchange with Shubman Gill

Bairstow: ‘What did you say to Jimmy about him retiring?’

Gill: ‘I told him he should retire.’

Bairstow: ‘And then he got you out next ball?’

Gill: “So what? How many times has…’

Bairstow: ‘I was just asking.’

Gill: ‘He can get me out after my 100.’

Bairstow: ‘100 per cent.’

Gill: ‘How many 100s [do you have] this series?’

Bairstow: ‘How many have you scored, full stop?’

Asked about the altercation on the BBC’s Tailenders podcast, Anderson had no problem explaining what he said to Gill before bringing the batter’s extraordinary knock to an end.

‘I said something to him like, “Do you get any runs outside India?”, and he said, “It’s time to retire”,’ Anderson said.

‘Then two balls later, I got him out.’

James Anderson celebrates with England team-mates — Only Muralitharan and Warne have taken more Test wickets than the England seamer (Picture: Getty)

Anderson also revealed that Kuldeep – one of India’s standout players of the series with the ball – predicted he would become his 700th wicket before it became a reality.

‘Kuldeep edged one down to third man for a single and as he got to the nonstriker’s end and as I was walking back to my mark, he said, =”I’m going to be your 700th wicket”,’ he added.

‘He wasn’t saying he was trying to get out, he was just saying he had a feeling. We both laughed at it.’