Manchester Test Ends in Controversy as Nasser Hussain critiques Ben Stokes for a late-match gesture that lit up the cricketing world. The drama unfolded on Day 5 of the fourth Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, where India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused to settle, eyeing personal milestones instead of handshakes.
Timeline of Events at Old Trafford
The match at Old Trafford will be remembered not just for gritty batting but also a moment that sparked headlines across the globe. On what seemed like a slow-burning final day, England struck early. Centurion Shubman Gill and KL Rahul fell, briefly giving hope to Ben Stokes’ men. But then came a resistance that England couldn’t break.
- India began Day 5 under pressure after an overnight total that looked shaky.
- Gill and Rahul revived hope briefly before both fell cheaply.
- Jadeja and Sundar steadied the innings and pushed hard.
- Despite England’s efforts, the Indian pair resisted till the end.
Toward the end, with runs drying up and overs ticking down, Stokes extended a hand—figuratively and literally. The idea was to call it a draw. But both Indian batters, within sight of their centuries, shook it off. Not rudely, but pointedly. They had earned their moment.
Official Statements
Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts. Speaking to Sky Cricket, he said:
“I didn’t have a problem. England seemed to have a problem with it, they were a little bit tired, tired bowlers, tired legs. They wanted to get off. The two lads have worked hard to get into the eighties, they wanted Test match hundreds.”
He continued:
“Stokes didn’t have to bowl Brook, and it looked a bit silly at the end there… They played well, they deserved a draw, they deserved to be there at the end.”
That candid assessment from Hussain has added another layer to the growing conversation around the so-called Bazball strategy. Not everyone is buying the bravado when it backfires.
Community Response
Cricket fans have been quick to pick sides. Social media debates flared up within hours of the final ball. Many applauded Jadeja and Sundar for holding firm. Others questioned England’s sudden drop in intensity.
Was it sportsmanlike to avoid bowling sincerely, just because the match couldn’t be won? Or was it a quiet understanding between both sides already?
Scrolling through forums and threads, you’ll find comments ranging from admiration for India’s grit to disappointment in England’s unusual closing tactic. One fan wrote, “Let them get their hundreds. It changes nothing, but means everything to those players.”
It’s a sentiment that, whether you agree or not, speaks to the emotional core of the sport. Test cricket isn’t just numbers and conditions—it’s pride, resolve, and sometimes, stubbornness for the right reasons.
Ben Stokes’ Move Raises Eyebrows
Ben Stokes is known for aggressive captaincy and unconventional moves. Usually, those risks pay off. But this time, tossing the ball to Harry Brook—who ended up delivering what many called ‘throwaway balls’—felt off.
Brook, not a regular bowler, didn’t just ease up. His deliveries bordered on comic, with little intention of dismissing anyone. Both Jadeja and Sundar took full advantage. Did that protest backfire? One could argue it did.
Jadeja capped off with his fifth Test century. Sundar got to his first-ever hundred. Two players who began at 0-2 on Day 4 now stood undefeated and historic.
Series Implications
This draw makes things very interesting. The series stays alive and now heads into a heated finale at The Oval. England, who appeared poised to dominating the match, must now regroup. India, on the other hand, has momentum and morale—thanks to those two left-handers who simply refused to fold.
Hussain himself underlined this shift:
“All credit to India. It’s only England’s second-ever draw under this Bazball regime—the other one on this ground as well, because of rain. This one was a draw simply because England couldn’t roll over the two left-handers, who were brilliant.”
That’s telling. The rain didn’t save India this time. Grit and patience did.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead to the final match at The Oval, questions loom large over both camps.
For England:
- Will Stokes rethink his captaincy approach in pressure situations?
- Was the “declaration gesture” an unforced misread of match mood?
- Do tired bowlers indicate larger physical strain from Bazball cricket?
For India:
- Can Sundar and Jadeja repeat such a performance?
- Is this level of resistance something India can build on?
- Who starts in the XI for The Oval, given ongoing injuries and experiments?
No easy answers. But one certainty: all eyes are now on The Oval. The finale promises drama, grit, and—if this match was any signal—plenty to talk about once the final ball is bowled.
The Bigger Picture
Sports media has a way of amplifying moments that touch nerves. And this one reached more than just the usual fans. It tapped a deeper debate about how cricket should be played when winning is no longer possible.
There’s pride in drawing the line, sometimes literally at 99 runs. There’s poetry in finishing the job, even when a result is out of reach. Jadeja and Sundar did that. And whether you’re a stats person or a spirit-of-the-game type, you’d admit—they gave us something to remember.
