India vs England: Frustrated hosts let out their petulant side

The host nation's team’s behaviour in the concluding moments of the fourth Test was despicable by all means.

Manchester: Petulant could probably best describe the England team’s behaviour in the concluding moments of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford that has now become the talk of the cricketing world, and sets the stage up nicely for a cracking series final starting Thursday at The Oval.

It all started when on-field umpires Rod Tucker and Ahsan Raza called for drinks with an hour and 15 overs left for the day.

Unable to break the defiant alliance of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, an extremely battered and bruised Ben Stokes walked up to the latter and offered a handshake in acceptance of a draw.

The 25-year-old Sundar, playing his 12th Test and batting on 80, first looked perplexed standing near the stumps and immediately gestured towards his senior partner Jadeja, who was refreshing himself with energy drinks.

Jadeja, batting on 89, too was taken by surprise at Stokes’ offer for a draw. The 36-year-old instantly said he cannot take a call on it and the decision to agree for a draw must come from his captain Shubman Gill, and rightly so. The cameras instantly panned on Gill, who was in the dressing room, and the 25-year-old, calm and composed like a monk, just asked his batters to carry on. He wanted them to score well-deserved centuries after having pulled off one of the greatest escape acts in the history of the game.

Stokes looked nonplussed and even had a conversation with the umpires, who reminded him he could take his team off the field only if both captains mutually agreed. With his bowlers having gone through a wringer and looking completely exhausted following a day and a half on the field, Stokes started to lose his cool. He first mocked Jadeja, saying, “You want to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook?”

Then other players joined in to take potshots at Jadeja and Sundar. Zak Crawley remarked, “Just shake your hand.” His opening partner Ben Duckett said, “How long do you need, an hour?”

Stokes even brought on Brook, who seemingly in protest, bowled a series of long-hops which Jadeja carted into the stands with remarkable ease to bring up his fifth Test century. A little later, Sundar notched his maiden Test ton when Gill finally accepted to sign a truce. 

Initially, Stokes was seemingly reluctant to shake hands with Jadeja and Sundar. Worse, he didn’t appear remorseful for his actions, taking a high moral stand by saying that he and his England team don’t play for records but only for victories.

Irony was lost there as Stokes celebrated his century in the same Test with a gesture towards his late father. Joe Root was exalted as he surged to second in the highest run-makers list in Tests following his brilliant 150. As much as players hate to admit it, records and personal milestones matter a lot in cricket, and Stokes is blissfully aware of it.

Simply, a person with more centuries is celebrated more than someone with the same number of 90s. For bowlers fifers matter more than four-wicket hauls. 

India coach Gautam Gambhir hit the nail on the head when an English journalist asked why India refused to shake hands for a draw at the post-match press conference. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, don't they deserve 100? Would they have walked off if someone from England's side had been batting on 90 or 85? If someone has the opportunity to get his first Test hundred, wouldn't you allow him to do it? They weathered the storm. It's up to them. If they want to play that way, then it's up to them. I've got nothing more to say. I think both those guys deserve the hundred. And fortunately, they got it.”