R Ashwin Slams Ben Stokes For 'Ridiculous' Remark: 'Think Before You Speak'
Ravichandran Ashwin has slammed Ben Stokes for calling injury substitutions 'ridiculous,' urging him to 'think before speaking' as 'karma hits instantly.'
Ravichandran Ashwin has asked Ben Stokes to 'think before speaking' because 'Karma hits instantly' over the England captain's remarks that injury substitutions were 'ridiculous'.
In cricket, only players who have suffered a concussion are allowed to be replaced with a like-for-like sub who can bat or bowl in their place. Other injuries, like Rishabh Pant's fractured foot in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, or Chris Woakes' shoulder injury in the fifth game, are allowed only fielding subs.
The topic was brought up after Pant's and a debate ensued in the fraternity. But even as India coach Gautam Gambhir called for a tweak in rules to allow it, Stokes denied, saying it was a 'ridiculous' idea where players could use a lot of loopholes to get in fresh players for slightly injured or simply tired ones.
Come the fifth Test, Woakes got injured on the first day and could no longer bowl, and only came to bat one-handed with a sling on the fifth day.
'Gautam Gambhir had said that injuries like these warrant substitutions," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. 'Immediately after, the same question was asked to Ben Stokes and he said, 'It's absolutely a joke.' … I'm a big fan of Ben Stokes. I admire his attitude. But you need to think before you speak."
'Today, Chris Woakes walked out with his shoulder tucked into his sweater and gave it his all to help the team win. He almost did it. He was running, showing immense game awareness. Hats off to Chris Woakes — remarkable attitude, remarkable fight, putting his body on the line."
Ashwin also pointed to former England captain Michael Vaughan's comments that the rule needed to evolve, saying that all Stokes had to do was 'show some empathy' for India.
'Michael Vaughan said this is one area where the game can evolve. Substitutions should be allowed. All I'm saying is: show a little empathy for the other team. Stokes should have considered what it would be like if a player of Rishabh Pant's calibre was in his team and got injured. Wouldn't you want a substitution? Wouldn't that be fair? You are free to share your opinion — but using words like 'joke' and 'ridiculous' isn't respectful. Think before you speak. Karma hits instantly," he added.
Stokes Doubles Down
Stokes couldn't play the fifth Test due to an injury but came to the post-match press conference anyway. He was asked if his mind had changed seeing what happened with Woakes.
But the English skipper chose to double down.
'I don't see it [injury substitutes] being a thing," said Stokes. 'Sorry about this, but if someone gets injured tough s***, deal with it. That's how we view it," he said.
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