‘Shameless': Cricket world turns on England captain Ben Stokes over handshake drama

News.com.au

a day ago

The cricket world has turned on Ben Stokes after the Englishman attempted to prematurely end the fourth Test against India, which would have denied two Indian batters their well-deserved centuries.
The England captain offered to shake hands and declare the fourth Test a draw during the final drinks break, but with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar nearing their well-deserved hundreds, India made England bowl till the duo reached their milestones.
'This will not please the England captain,' former England bowler Stuart Broad said on Sky Sports commentary.
The 34-year-old was clearly upset by India's refusal to accept the draw despite having no chance at victory as India finished on 4-425 in their second innings – with a lead of 114 runs.
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Stokes and his fellow Englishmen could be heard on stump microphones swearing at the batters, in particular Sundar who was trying to earn his maiden Test century.
'You want to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook?' Stokes quipped sarcastically at Jadeja.
England opener Zak Crawley continued: 'Just shake your hand.'
Fellow Englishman Ben Duckett said: 'How long do you need, an hour?'
You can watch the handshake drama in the player above
Jadeja smashed an absolutely shocking Brook delivery for six to complete a 182-ball century, but the Yorkshireman, who intentionally was bowling garbage, then attempted to interrupt the all-rounder's celebration by offering his hand to Sundar on 92.
He was ignored.
'The England players are not applauding the century here, they are standing with arms folded,' former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said on Sony Sports Network following Jadeja's hundred.
'I'd ask them to keep batting and keep the team on the field for the full 15 overs.'
In the end, a Sundar two off Brook took him to a 206-ball hundred, which was the last act of the match.
Post-match, Stokes and his English brigade were still fuming at what unfolded.
'I don't think there would've been too much more satisfaction from walking off 100 not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80 or 90 not out,' Stokes said post-match.
' … All the hard work was done by India, and there was only one result … I wasn't going to risk any of my bowlers, (Liam) Dawsey had bowled a lot of overs and his body was tiring.
'I wasn't going to risk any of my frontline bowlers.'
Cricket world slams 'shameless' Ben Stokes
India head coach Gautam Gambhir said in response to Stokes' actions that he believes England would have done the exact same thing if they were in their shoes.
'If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, don't they deserve a hundred?' Gambhir asked post-game.
'Would they have walked off? If someone from the England side was batting on 90 and 85 and someone had the opportunity to get his first Test 100, wouldn't you allow him to do it? They weathered the storm.
'It's up to them. If they want to play that way, nothing more to say. I think both those guys deserved a 100 and fortunately they got it.'
It also didn't sit well with former English captain Nasser Hussain.
'I didn't have a problem with it. I mean, I know England seemed to have a problem with it,' Hussain said on Sky Sports.
'They're a little bit tired — tired bowlers, tired legs — they wanted to get off. The two lads had worked hard to get into the 80s and 90s; they wanted Test match hundreds.
'Stokes didn't have to bowl Brook and it looked a bit silly at the end there.'
And fans also were quick to slam Stokes.
'Every time I think Ben Stokes has earned a fan in me with his all-round brilliance, he or England do something that reminds me exactly why I hesitate. That was utterly shameless from the English captain, not what you expect from a player, let alone a leader,' one fan wrote on X.
'Jeez.....Ben Stokes is a massive doos England is a factory for unlikeable sportsmen,' another added.
''You want to get a hundred against Harry Brook': Ben Stokes to Jadeja. Such pathetic words from a Captain. Literally played a tremendous innings to save the game, played all their main bowlers easily and Stokes really thinks, the hundred is going to be because he played Brook,' a third wrote.
England remain 2-1 up in this five-match contest ahead of a quick turnaround to Thursday's start of an Oval finale and if Sunday's action is anything to go by, it is sure to be fireworks.