What began as a gritty effort to draw the fifth Test between India and England in Manchester nearly erupted into a full-blown controversy on Sunday. With the match seemingly destined for a draw, an unexpected offer by England captain Ben Stokes to call it off early with 15 overs remaining sparked a chain reaction that left both camps visibly unsettled.
England, having battled hard to stay in the game after trailing significantly, approached India with a draw offer late on Day 5. Ben Stokes, in a gesture often seen in the spirit of Test cricket, proposed that the match be concluded peacefully, considering the match situation and fading light. India, however, surprised many by declining the offer.
At that point, India stood tall at 386/4 in 138 overs, having built a 75-run lead, and with little chance of a result given the remaining time. But the Indian dressing room had no intention of winding down. In fact, what followed was a high-octane passage of play that saw the Indian batters continue to score aggressively while their bowlers began to warm up — raising eyebrows across the field.
Spirit or Strategy?
As per The Telegraph UK, sources close to the England team stated that the initial refusal was taken in good spirit. But when India began accelerating scoring and signaling for a possible declaration with the intention to bowl, tensions visibly rose.
India’s coach Rahul Dravid was seen in discussion with team strategists, while skipper Rohit Sharma remained animated on the balcony, possibly weighing the decision to squeeze a win in the limited time. The move, though bold, was viewed by the England camp as unsporting given the mutual understanding usually reserved for drawn games.
Ben Stokes Reacts
Ben Stokes, known for his competitive fire, appeared visibly miffed during the final overs. His body language told the story — pacing nervously, animated discussions with teammates, and a few exchanges with umpires.
Post-match, Stokes tried to downplay the incident. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said,
“It was one of those moments where things get heated. We offered the draw thinking that was the natural conclusion, but they had different plans. It’s cricket.”
However, reports suggest that behind the scenes, some in the England camp felt India breached an “unwritten gentleman’s code” by first refusing a draw and then pressing for a result.
India’s Perspective
India, on the other hand, remained unapologetic. In the post-match conference, Rohit Sharma defended the move:
“We play to win, always. If we saw a chance, even a slim one, we had to go for it. That’s how modern Test cricket is.”
Commentators on Cricbuzz argued that India’s push for victory was less about disrespect and more about asserting dominance, especially with the World Test Championship points on the line.
Match Ends in a Draw, But Drama Steals the Show
Ultimately, the match ended in a draw, but the final hour delivered the kind of drama Test cricket thrives on. No wickets fell, no declaration came, but the psychological sparring left fans with a thrilling cliffhanger — and possibly ignited a new chapter in the fierce India-England rivalry.
The Manchester Test might go down as one of those matches where the scoreboard didn’t tell the full story — but the emotions, intent, and unspoken codes certainly did.
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