Nasser Hussain criticised Ben Stokes’ “silly” gesture, which overshadowed the heroic efforts of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in securing a hard-fought draw in Manchester.
Nasser Hussain Blasts Stokes’ “Silly” Antics After Manchester Test Draw
Former England captain Nasser Hussain didn’t hold back in his criticism of Ben Stokes, slamming the England skipper for his “silly” behavior at the end of the fourth Test in Manchester. Stokes’ actions overshadowed the grit and resilience shown by India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who batted brilliantly to deny England a win and keep the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series alive.
With Jadeja in the 90s and Sundar in the 80s, the duo had already thwarted England’s chances of victory after early breakthroughs on Day 5. Sensing a draw, Stokes approached the batters and offered to shake hands. But with personal milestones in sight, both Indians refused, leading to visible frustration from the England captain.
In protest, Stokes handed the ball to Harry Brook, who bowled gentle, almost farcical deliveries. Jadeja completed his fifth Test hundred swiftly, and Sundar followed soon after with his maiden ton.
Commenting on the episode to Sky Cricket, Hussain 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. The two lads worked hard to get into the eighties and wanted Test match hundreds. Stokes didn’t have to bowl Brook. It looked a bit silly at the end, but we make far too much of these things. They played well, they deserved a draw, they deserved to be there at the end.”
Nasser Hussain Lauds India’s Grit After Shaky Start
Nasser Hussain showered praise on India for salvaging a hard-fought draw despite a disastrous start at 0/2 on Day 4 of the Manchester Test. A gritty 188-run partnership between Shubman Gill and KL Rahul laid the foundation before Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar ensured England couldn’t force a result, setting the stage for a thrilling finale at The Oval.
