Tempers flared between India and England once more in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused England’s offer to draw the Test match in the final session of the fourth Test in Manchester on Sunday.
With the possibility of a win over, England captain Ben Stokes went up to Jadeja to end the contest. The Indian batters, though, wanted the match to carry on for longer.
Jadeja was batting on 90 while Washington, on 84, was on the cusp of a maiden Test century.
According to rule 12.7.6 in the ICC Test playing conditions, “On the final day, if both captains (the batters at the wicket may act for their captain) accept that there is no prospect of either side achieving a victory, they may agree to finish the match after (a) the time for the commencement of the last hour has been reached OR (b) there are a minimum of 15 overs to be bowled, whichever is the later.”
Upon the Indians’ insistence to carry on the contest, Stokes was heard at the stump mic saying, “Jaddu, do you want to get a Test 100 against Brook & Duckett?”
Other England players Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook also exchanged words with the batters.
Brook offered full tosses to Jadeja in his next over, which Jadeja hit for a six and four through the on side to complete his century. Washington, too, reached his century off Brook, hitting him inside out over covers.
When asked about the decision to bowl Brook in the final minutes of the game, Stokes said, “All the hardwork was done by India and there was only one result. I wasn’t going to risk any of my bowlers. Dawson had bowled a lot of overs and his body was tiring, I wasn’t going to risk any of my frontline bowlers.”
