Ben Stokes furious at India's refusal to shake hands and end Test early
After only managing to pick up four Indian wickets across 138 overs as they pushed to win the match and the series, England offered to declare the fourth Test a draw at the start of the final hour, when there were 15 overs remaining in the match, at around 5.25pm local time.
What happened?
England took the draw worse than a defeat, not covering themselves in glory as they reacted to centuries by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar with churlish cynicism.
It is in keeping with their view of the sport as a team game that once the final hour started with India 75 ahead at four for 386, the match was over as a contest so why not pull up stumps?
Stokes offered his hand for the draw but India slapped it away to emphasise their total dominance at the end of the Test, to leave England leading the series 2-1 going into the final clash.
Jadeja and Sundar, who had batted together since the morning session of day five, were in the eighties and eyeing hundreds, so declined Stokes's offer to end the game.
In a clash of cricketing cultures – Stokes's team claim not to care about personal milestones – cross words were exchanged as the game was completed in limp fashion.
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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Lyon expecting to be England target in Ashes
Nathan Lyon has told England to bring it on this summer, confident their attacking style of cricket will play into his hands in the Ashes. Lyon has been keeping a close eye on the "amazing theatre" of the Test series between England and India as Australia's leading spinner gears up for the summer. The 37-year-old took eight wickets in Australia's series-opening win in the 2023 Ashes before tearing his calf in the second Test. He is eager for another campaign. "I totally expect them to come out and attack me," Lyon said. "I think every touring team says they're going to come and attack a spinner. So I'm pretty used to that now. "I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me. It brings me into the game. So I'm looking forward to that. "I've got some plans and I'm already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and work on." England were in the midst of the BazBall revolution at the start of the 2023 Ashes, but Lyon believes Ben Stokes's men are now adopting a more refined approach. "I honestly think it's changed a little bit," Lyon said. "I think they're now honestly thinking about ways to actually win games and not being totally reckless." Lyon is taking some time off following Australia's series sweep against the West Indies, but his WhatsApp cricket chats were blowing up as the spicy fourth Test between England and India unfolded at Old Trafford. England came under fire when Stokes sought to end the Test with an hour left and no result possible, and several players pilloried Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for opting to bat on to reach centuries. Speaking at a sponsor function ahead of the Melbourne Renegades' BBL season, Lyon said he would have taken a different approach than to offer the early handshake. "Get them out. Don't let them get a hundred," he said bluntly. "It's England and the way they're playing their cricket, it's amazing theatre and it's something I love viewing." Lyon said England's captain looked in fighting shape ahead of the biennial battle with their old foes. "I think you've got to take a hat off to Ben Stokes and the way he's really focused on this Test series against India, now with an eye on to the Ashes," Lyon said. "The way he's transformed his physical fitness and he looks unbelievable., "He's bowling those long spells and he's scoring the big 100 that he did the other day, so it's going to be a hell of a summer and I'm really excited for it." Lyon missed the third match against the West Indies when Australia opted for a rare all-pace attack - his first Test omission other than for injury since 2013. He admitted he was disappointed but with the tourists rolling the West Indies for 27 in 14.3 overs, agreed it proved a master-stroke in the conditions. "There's no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision but I totally understood it," he said. "Disappointed because one, I believe I can play a role in any conditions and also, not to walk out with Starcy (Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test) as I've played 90-odd Test matches with him." Nathan Lyon has told England to bring it on this summer, confident their attacking style of cricket will play into his hands in the Ashes. Lyon has been keeping a close eye on the "amazing theatre" of the Test series between England and India as Australia's leading spinner gears up for the summer. The 37-year-old took eight wickets in Australia's series-opening win in the 2023 Ashes before tearing his calf in the second Test. He is eager for another campaign. "I totally expect them to come out and attack me," Lyon said. "I think every touring team says they're going to come and attack a spinner. So I'm pretty used to that now. "I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me. It brings me into the game. So I'm looking forward to that. "I've got some plans and I'm already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and work on." England were in the midst of the BazBall revolution at the start of the 2023 Ashes, but Lyon believes Ben Stokes's men are now adopting a more refined approach. "I honestly think it's changed a little bit," Lyon said. "I think they're now honestly thinking about ways to actually win games and not being totally reckless." Lyon is taking some time off following Australia's series sweep against the West Indies, but his WhatsApp cricket chats were blowing up as the spicy fourth Test between England and India unfolded at Old Trafford. England came under fire when Stokes sought to end the Test with an hour left and no result possible, and several players pilloried Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for opting to bat on to reach centuries. Speaking at a sponsor function ahead of the Melbourne Renegades' BBL season, Lyon said he would have taken a different approach than to offer the early handshake. "Get them out. Don't let them get a hundred," he said bluntly. "It's England and the way they're playing their cricket, it's amazing theatre and it's something I love viewing." Lyon said England's captain looked in fighting shape ahead of the biennial battle with their old foes. "I think you've got to take a hat off to Ben Stokes and the way he's really focused on this Test series against India, now with an eye on to the Ashes," Lyon said. "The way he's transformed his physical fitness and he looks unbelievable., "He's bowling those long spells and he's scoring the big 100 that he did the other day, so it's going to be a hell of a summer and I'm really excited for it." Lyon missed the third match against the West Indies when Australia opted for a rare all-pace attack - his first Test omission other than for injury since 2013. He admitted he was disappointed but with the tourists rolling the West Indies for 27 in 14.3 overs, agreed it proved a master-stroke in the conditions. "There's no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision but I totally understood it," he said. "Disappointed because one, I believe I can play a role in any conditions and also, not to walk out with Starcy (Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test) as I've played 90-odd Test matches with him." Nathan Lyon has told England to bring it on this summer, confident their attacking style of cricket will play into his hands in the Ashes. Lyon has been keeping a close eye on the "amazing theatre" of the Test series between England and India as Australia's leading spinner gears up for the summer. The 37-year-old took eight wickets in Australia's series-opening win in the 2023 Ashes before tearing his calf in the second Test. He is eager for another campaign. "I totally expect them to come out and attack me," Lyon said. "I think every touring team says they're going to come and attack a spinner. So I'm pretty used to that now. "I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me. It brings me into the game. So I'm looking forward to that. "I've got some plans and I'm already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and work on." England were in the midst of the BazBall revolution at the start of the 2023 Ashes, but Lyon believes Ben Stokes's men are now adopting a more refined approach. "I honestly think it's changed a little bit," Lyon said. "I think they're now honestly thinking about ways to actually win games and not being totally reckless." Lyon is taking some time off following Australia's series sweep against the West Indies, but his WhatsApp cricket chats were blowing up as the spicy fourth Test between England and India unfolded at Old Trafford. England came under fire when Stokes sought to end the Test with an hour left and no result possible, and several players pilloried Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for opting to bat on to reach centuries. Speaking at a sponsor function ahead of the Melbourne Renegades' BBL season, Lyon said he would have taken a different approach than to offer the early handshake. "Get them out. Don't let them get a hundred," he said bluntly. "It's England and the way they're playing their cricket, it's amazing theatre and it's something I love viewing." Lyon said England's captain looked in fighting shape ahead of the biennial battle with their old foes. "I think you've got to take a hat off to Ben Stokes and the way he's really focused on this Test series against India, now with an eye on to the Ashes," Lyon said. "The way he's transformed his physical fitness and he looks unbelievable., "He's bowling those long spells and he's scoring the big 100 that he did the other day, so it's going to be a hell of a summer and I'm really excited for it." Lyon missed the third match against the West Indies when Australia opted for a rare all-pace attack - his first Test omission other than for injury since 2013. He admitted he was disappointed but with the tourists rolling the West Indies for 27 in 14.3 overs, agreed it proved a master-stroke in the conditions. "There's no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision but I totally understood it," he said. "Disappointed because one, I believe I can play a role in any conditions and also, not to walk out with Starcy (Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test) as I've played 90-odd Test matches with him."

The Australian
12 hours ago
- The Australian
England vs India: Cricket laws broken in Old Trafford Test controversy
To many cricket lovers, the spirit of cricket is a hazy, romantic, hard-to-define concept but to the game's law makers it is much more tangible that that. There are 42 laws in every cricket match and the law book also contains a special preamble on the spirit of cricket which includes more laws to which players are held fully accountable. It is placed in the front of the book because it is considered the most important entry. And England, self-appointed standard setters for the game's moral compass, pushed those laws beyond breaking point on a day when they taunted and mocked Indian batsmen Ravi Jadeja. and Washington Sundar after they refused an invitation from English captain Ben Stokes to declare the game drawn before they had their centuries. Here are three examples. THE LAW: It is against the spirit of the game to direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire. THE INCIDENT: 'F------ hell Washy get on with it,'' said Harry Brook to Sundar when he was 95 chasing his century. OUR VERDICT: Normally players caught swearing over the stump mike get fined. Brook appears to have escaped. That's surprising. Not the worst sledge we've heard but the angry tone in which it was delivered went down badly with the Indian team, especially as Sundar had every right to go on and get his century. Guilty. THE LAW: The captains are responsible for ensuring play is conducted within the spirit of the game. THE INCIDENT: Stokes was the key architect in making a mockery of the final hour of the Test. He had every right to ask the Indian batsmen if they wanted to finish up but they had every right to reject him. From that point he turned into Captain Salty and his decision to gift them centuries via some 'joke'' bowling from Harry Brook was a demeaning act as far away from the spirit of the game as you could imagine. OUR VERDICT: Stokes effectively tossed this law out the window had one of his worst days as captain by setting a dreadful example. Guilty. THE LAW: It is against the spirit of the game to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side. THE INCIDENT: Where do we start? The English were as rowdy as a flock of gallahs all day with the stump mike running hot with random observations and needling taunts. On and on it went then, when Sundar and Jadeja approached their tons, the volume level soared again. OUR VERDICT: Guilty but India can't whinge too loudly because they babbled on all day when they were in the field as well. Robert Craddock Senior sports journalist Robert 'Crash' Craddock is regarded as one of Queensland's best authorities on sport. 'Crash' is a senior sport journalist and columnist for The Courier-Mail and CODE Sports, and can be seen on Fox Cricket. Cricket State cricket authorities have discussed moving Sydney's iconic New Year's Test as a new report calls for a radical shake-up to the summer schedule to allow more stars to feature in the BBL. Cricket The new tough-talking, pot-stirring English cricket team is suffering from a baffling identity crisis on the eve of the Ashes tour, going into meltdown after two Indian batters had the audacity to tell them 'no'.


Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
Lyon expecting to be England target in Ashes
Nathan Lyon has told England to bring it on this summer, confident their attacking style of cricket will play into his hands in the Ashes. Lyon has been keeping a close eye on the "amazing theatre" of the Test series between England and India as Australia's leading spinner gears up for the summer. The 37-year-old took eight wickets in Australia's series-opening win in the 2023 Ashes before tearing his calf in the second Test. He is eager for another campaign. "I totally expect them to come out and attack me," Lyon said. "I think every touring team says they're going to come and attack a spinner. So I'm pretty used to that now. "I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me. It brings me into the game. So I'm looking forward to that. "I've got some plans and I'm already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and work on." England were in the midst of the BazBall revolution at the start of the 2023 Ashes, but Lyon believes Ben Stokes's men are now adopting a more refined approach. "I honestly think it's changed a little bit," Lyon said. "I think they're now honestly thinking about ways to actually win games and not being totally reckless." Lyon is taking some time off following Australia's series sweep against the West Indies, but his WhatsApp cricket chats were blowing up as the spicy fourth Test between England and India unfolded at Old Trafford. England came under fire when Stokes sought to end the Test with an hour left and no result possible, and several players pilloried Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for opting to bat on to reach centuries. Speaking at a sponsor function ahead of the Melbourne Renegades' BBL season, Lyon said he would have taken a different approach than to offer the early handshake. "Get them out. Don't let them get a hundred," he said bluntly. "It's England and the way they're playing their cricket, it's amazing theatre and it's something I love viewing." Lyon said England's captain looked in fighting shape ahead of the biennial battle with their old foes. "I think you've got to take a hat off to Ben Stokes and the way he's really focused on this Test series against India, now with an eye on to the Ashes," Lyon said. "The way he's transformed his physical fitness and he looks unbelievable., "He's bowling those long spells and he's scoring the big 100 that he did the other day, so it's going to be a hell of a summer and I'm really excited for it." Lyon missed the third match against the West Indies when Australia opted for a rare all-pace attack - his first Test omission other than for injury since 2013. He admitted he was disappointed but with the tourists rolling the West Indies for 27 in 14.3 overs, agreed it proved a master-stroke in the conditions. "There's no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision but I totally understood it," he said. "Disappointed because one, I believe I can play a role in any conditions and also, not to walk out with Starcy (Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test) as I've played 90-odd Test matches with him."