NEW DELHI: You can't expect an Ashes series without sledging and on-field mind games, and they finally took centre stage on Day 4 of the third Test in Adelaide after being largely absent until then.

The hilarious incident unfolded during England's 435-run chase when opener Zak Crawley resorted to delaying tactics in an attempt to run down the clock just before the lunch break.

Crawley ensured that only two overs could be bowled before lunch by repeatedly stepping away and padding up, deliberately eating into the time. He finally took strike for the last ball of Pat Cummins' opening over, making sure the clock had ticked past 12pm.

Cummins, however, decided to give Crawley a taste of his own medicine, theatrically stopping to tie his shoelaces with a broad smile, much to the delight of the roaring crowd.

Things did not stop there, as Cummins rushed in at the final moment and Crawley suddenly pulled back - raising eyebrows over the sportsmanship.

But the Australian skipper laughed it off, with Channel 7's Alister Nicholson dubbing it "high drama."