Ben chez-Kevin Pietersen justifies Ben Stokes' annoyance over India's rejection of a draw at Old Trafford
In the thrilling final day of the Old Trafford Test between England and India, Ben Stokes, England's captain, showed visible signs of frustration as India managed to avoid an innings defeat. After India recovered from 0-2 to set a target with a 75-run lead, Stokes offered a handshake to concede the match as a draw in the final hour. However, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, both approaching personal centuries, declined the offer to end the game, choosing to continue batting instead.
Stokes and the England team felt the prolonging of the match was unsporting given the game was clearly heading for a draw. England then bowled five more overs of mainly part-time spin but were unable to force a result. Kevin Pietersen, former England captain, publicly defended Stokes’ reaction to the situation, acknowledging Stokes’ frustration was understandable. Pietersen supported Stokes' view that once the match outcome was clear, it was reasonable for the captain to want to conclude matters and avoid unnecessary risk to players through extended play.
This incident occurred amid a fiercely contested five-match Test series that ended 2-2, which Stokes himself described as "disappointed and frustrated" but nonetheless a fair outcome considering the close battles throughout. The series was praised as an excellent advertisement for Test cricket, highlighting the intensity between two top teams over 25 days of cricket.
During the Test, England bowled a total of 143 overs in the second innings, yielding only two wickets across five sessions. In the first innings, England conceded 358 runs, bowling a total of 114.1 overs. Stokes himself bowled 24 overs in the first innings, taking a five-wicket haul, and 11 overs on day five despite a shoulder issue.
The next Test between England and India will start on July 31, with only a three-day break. For those who want to follow the series, our website provides updates, live scores, team lineups, schedule, and more. The live streaming details for the ENG vs IND series can be found on our website for viewers in India, UK, USA, and the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar felt Stokes "behaved like a spoiled kid" and that he "should have behaved better". Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir stated that Jadeja and Sundar "deserved to get their hundreds", which is why they refused to accept the draw. Jonathan Trott argued that England would have taken the draw instead of focusing on individual milestones if they were in India's position.
As the series continues, tensions between the two teams are expected to remain high, with both sides determined to emerge victorious. Fans can look forward to another intense battle when the series resumes.
Stokes and the England team believed that India's prolonging of the match was unsportsmanlike given the game's evident draw, as expressed in Kevin Pietersen's defense of Stokes' reaction. Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Stokes for behaving like a spoiled kid, with Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir defending Jadeja and Sundar's decision to bat, arguing they deserved to get their centuries.
