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22 hours ago
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India's batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, along with England's players, at a drinks break during the fifth day. (FILE photo)
When Ben Stokes asked for a draw during the fifth Test between India and England on the final day at Manchester, both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were nearing their tons denied, which meant the match was forced into mandatory 15 overs. The incident sparked a brawl between both sides, and there were quite contrasting views from different former players and experts. Former England cricketer David Lloyd also gave his view on the matter.
“There’s a facility to end the game. Take the bails off because it’s a farce. Would you want to get your (100) if you’re on 80, would you want to get your maiden Test match century against law books?” Llyod said speaking on The Overlap’s cricket. “I think the umpire, the game, there’s a facility in the game to call a stalemate, of which Ben Stokes called the stalemate, ‘we can’t win this game, they (India) can’t win the game,’”he added.
Meanwhile, South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi wondered aloud on X why such a big deal was being made about India not accepting the offer to end the match immediately.
“Why is there such a big deal being made about the Indians choosing not to accept the offer to end the game in a draw immediately? The offer was made..the offer was rejected n they were fully entitled to make their choice. They got their 100s which they worked hard for. Game over,” Shamsi said.
To this, Steyn said, “Shamo this onion has many layers to it, and each one will make someone cry. The only issue I see here is the one thing people aren’t realizing, the batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. That was the goal. Draw the game. Once that was accomplished, and a result was out of the question a handshake was offered, that’s the gentlemanly thing to do right? It’s not then the time to realize they safe and now say no we’d prefer some free milestones… although within the rules, just seems a little, well, odd. That said, they did bat well, and maybe with the last hour approaching they should have been more aggressive in reaching those milestones, at least then, we could all agree, no team tried to out do the other in this weird situation.”
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