India snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat in the fourth Test of the five-match Test series at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.
The Test match ended in a bit of controversy, as Ben Stokes offered a handshake to the Indian batters at the crease then- Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja- so that the match would end warly since therw was no other result possible other than a draw. The batters refused to budge as they were nearing centuries, and this refusal caused England players to give them an earful. Harry Brook went on to sledge the Indian batters the most, as Ben Stokes used his part-time bowlers including him to complete the quota of overs. Ex-England star Stuart Broad has now slammed one of Brook’s actions after this incident.
When Harry Brook was bowling to Ravindra Jadeja, he was bowling slowish balls so that Jadeja could hit, and get to his century earlier than expected and the match could get over soon. A medium-pacer, Brook even bowled a delivery which was only 37 miles per hour, slower than even spinners. This irked Stuart Broad, who said this was ‘filthy’and he looked like a poor man’s Dan Lawrence.
“Harry Brook came on to bowl and he bowled absolute filth. He bowled off spin. It was a bit of an embarrassing moment,” Broad said in the ‘I Love Cricket’ podcast.
“Right-arm medium pace and you come up and bowl off spin? I didn’t know he bowled off spin. He looked like a poor man’s Dan Lawrence in his action. He was trying to get the game done if they (India batters) were trying to get their hundreds,” he added.
India Pull Off Sensational Draw In Manchester
Being put in to bat first after losing the toss, India scored 358 in the first innings before being bundled out. Sai Sudharsan top-scored with 61, while Rishabh Pant made played a valiant knock of 54 with a broken toe. Ben Stokes starred with the ball, taking a five-wicket haul.
England, in the second innings, were at their dominant best. They scored 669 runs batting for almost two days. Joe Root top scored with 150, while Ben Stokes also scored his first century of the series, slamming 141. They thus secured a 311-run lead.
India were reeling at 0/2 in the first over in the third innings, before KL Rahul and Shubman Gill held fort with a 188-run stand. Rahul got out for 90, while Gill slammed 103, his fourth century of the series. After both batters were dismissed, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja weathered the storm of the English bowlers in the fifth day till the last ball of play, as both scored tons. Thus, India played out a fighting draw.