Sports Bulletin July 13: Siraj’s Fiery Send-Off, Pietersen Reacts to Gill-Crawley Showdown, Messi’s Record Run & More

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Sports Bulletin From July 13: From Mohammed Siraj's fiery spell and reaction after dismissing English batters on Day 4 of Lord's Test to the verbal exchange of words between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley before stumps on Day 3, to Lionel Messi creating another record in the ongoing MLS season, top sports moments from July 13.

Here's your quick roundup of the top sports headlines on July 13.

1. Siraj Gives Fiery Send-Off To Duckett As Tempers Keep Flaring at Lord's

Mohammed Siraj added serious fire to an already heated Test match at Lord's with a fiery send-off to England opener Ben Duckett on Day 4 of the third Test. With tempers having simmered since the previous evening's intense exchange between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley, Siraj's aggression felt like an extension of India's charged-up mindset.

After Duckett mistimed a lofted stroke off a length delivery, Jasprit Bumrah pouched the catch at mid-on. Siraj, clearly fired up, stormed toward Duckett, getting in his face and offering an animated send-off that sparked debate across cricketing circles.

While Siraj's passion was unmistakable, many felt the line was crossed when he made physical contact with Duckett and celebrated aggressively. The incident followed a dramatic Day 3 ending where Gill confronted Crawley after the latter pulled away late and then called for the physio after taking a glove hit.

KL Rahul later downplayed the incident, calling it "a part of the game," but the Indian team's emotions were clearly spilling over. The episode has sparked a fresh debate on the balance between intensity and sportsmanship in Test cricket, especially at a venue as historic as Lord's.

2. Kevin Pietersen Throws His Support Behind Shubman Gill Over Zak Crawley Heated Conversation

Tensions ran high during the dying minutes of Day 3 at Lord's, and the world watched with bated breath as Shubman Gill clashed with Zak Crawley in a rare display of raw emotion. Crawley's hesitation at the crease and subsequent glove injury stoppage incensed the Indian players, with Gill visibly losing his cool from the slip cordon.

As Crawley asked for medical attention, Gill confronted him, leading to a heated verbal exchange that even drew in Duckett. The charged finale to the day's play ended with Jasprit Bumrah bowling a snorter to cap a spicy six-minute passage.

The incident may have divided opinion, but former England captain Kevin Pietersen applauded Gill's aggression. Taking to social media, Pietersen wrote, "Test cricket needs needle," expressing his love for the drama and the passion that had unfolded. His support for Gill countered the criticism from sections of the English media and former players, who felt the Indians were overstepping the line. With the five-match series levelled at 1-1, such flashpoints have added spice to what is quickly becoming a modern-day classic between two fiercely competitive teams.

3. "I'd Play Rugby With That": Stuart Broad on Dukes Ball Controversy

Stuart Broad's humorous but scathing remark on the quality of the Dukes ball-"I'd play rugby with that"-lit up the latest chapter in a growing controversy over the condition of balls used in the ongoing India vs England Test series. The third Test at Lord's has seen multiple ball changes due to them going out of shape, and during a Sky Sports broadcast, Broad and Michael Atherton analysed one such discarded ball. While Atherton believed the umpires were being overly cautious, Broad insisted the ball was simply unusable, criticising its softness and inability to generate any movement off the pitch.

Broad's point wasn't just about aesthetics or feel; it struck at the heart of bowling strategy. "You need the harness of the seam to grip and move... even to be able to play a lovely cover drive and hit the ball for four," he argued, explaining how both bowlers and batters were being affected by the unpredictable shape.

4. Shubman Gill and Co. hailed by England Great For Showing Intensity On Field

Stuart Broad, who usually defends English players, was all praise for India's charged-up performance on the morning of Day 4, especially after the drama-filled Day 3 finale. He hailed the Indian bowling unit for coming out with "great intensity" and said the previous evening's confrontation had "galvanised" the team.

With Siraj, Bumrah, and debutant Akash Deep going hard at the English top-order, England were left reeling in the second innings.

India's aggression wasn't just limited to verbal duels or body language-it translated into relentless pressure on the field. Siraj's double blow, Reddy's timely strike to remove Crawley, and Akash Deep's clean-up of Harry Brook kept the momentum with India. The fire shown by Gill's men turned what was an evenly poised Test into one firmly leaning in their favour.

5. PT Usha Initiates Probe into Delay in BFI Elections

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has constituted a three-member Fact-Finding Committee to look into the prolonged delay in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections. The committee, chaired by IOA Treasurer Sahdev Yadav and including Bhupender Singh Bajwa and Advocate Payal Kakra, has been tasked with assessing the legal and administrative situation surrounding the BFI, whose Executive Committee's term ended in February. With elections repeatedly delayed due to legal entanglements, the panel is expected to submit its findings within a week.

The Sports Ministry had previously requested Usha to coordinate with World Boxing and devise a clear path forward in line with the National Sports Code. World Boxing had already formed a six-member Interim Committee led by Ajay Singh to ensure continuity, with a mandate now extended to conclude elections by August 31. However, internal strife within BFI, including the resignation of its Returning Officer and rising factional tensions, continues to plague the process. BFI Executive Director Arun Malik stated the federation remains committed to holding free and fair elections while respecting its autonomy.

6. Harikrishnan A Ra Becomes India's 87th Grandmaster

India has added another gem to its chess legacy with 24-year-old Harikrishnan A Ra becoming the nation's 87th Grandmaster. The Chennai-based player achieved the milestone by securing his third GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France. Harikrishnan had earned his first two norms in earlier events, including the Andujar Open in Spain.

His achievement is a moment of pride for his coach Mohanraj, who now boasts two GMs from his academy within a few months. Harikrishnan's success follows closely on the heels of Srihari L R, India's 86th GM, underscoring the strength of Tamil Nadu's grassroots chess infrastructure.

7. Iga Swiatek Shares Special Wimbledon Moment with Courteney Cox

Iga Swiatek celebrated her maiden Wimbledon crown with an emotional post-match moment, hugging actress Courteney Cox-famed for her role as Monica in Friends, at Centre Court. The Polish superstar clinched her sixth Grand Slam title in dominant fashion, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0. After her win, Swiatek climbed into the stands to embrace her team and supporters, where Cox was waiting to congratulate her.

Their bond stretches beyond just fandom; Swiatek and Cox had met before last year's French Open and shared a friendly hitting session. Swiatek's love for Friends is well-documented, even wearing custom sneakers at Roland Garros last year referencing the show's episode titles. The heartfelt exchange added a human and pop culture element to an already historic sporting achievement for the 23-year-old tennis star.

8. Lionel Messi Scores Fifth Straight Brace, Nears La Liga Record

Lionel Messi continues to mesmerise fans in the MLS, netting his fifth consecutive brace as Inter Miami defeated Nashville 2-1 on Saturday. The Argentine legend scored a sensational free kick before finishing off the game with a composed strike. This marks yet another game where Messi has delivered a two-goal performance, following similar outings against Montreal (twice), Columbus Crew, and New England Revolution.

Messi is now just one game away from equalling his famous 2012-13 record with Barcelona, where he scored braces in six straight La Liga matches. With Inter Miami on a winning spree and Messi leading the charge, comparisons with his prime European form feel more justified than ever. As the 37-year-old nears yet another personal milestone, MLS fans are witnessing the continued brilliance of one of football's greatest players.