Stokes' Over-Rate Drama: England's Mind Games In Manchester First Sports With Rupha Ramani
The England-India series has been fierce, but the real battle is brewing off the field. After being penalised for a slow over-rate at Lord's, Ben Stokes has fired a fresh salvo, demanding different rules for different countries. Not too long ago - Stokes accepted the penalty without contesting the decision. Is this a valid point - or just mind games gone too far? Rupha Ramani breaks down the controversy, Stokes' shifting stance, and how England's anger is fueling the mind games. With the must-win Manchester Test looming for India, will England move past the drama or let the mind games define the otherwise well-fought and fiery Anderson-Tendulkar trophy?
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Indian Express
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There are just two possible results – 'the more likely' England win and after the solid Rahul-Shubman show, the 'not quite impossible' India draw. India has ensured this remains an unputdownable series. Rains are expected on the final day of the Test but so will be an overcast sky. There have been no easy days on this tour and they come with the promise of exciting cricket. Rahul with his methodical play and Test match technique could be expected to play controlled cricket but Shubman's inning came as a refreshing surprise for its sheer tenacity – a rare virtue in Indian cricket. After spending every ounce of his energy trying to figure out ways to get the English batsmen out for the team, Shubman now with a bat in hand had to fight an individual battle. In the last three innings – twice at Lord's and in the first innings here – he has gotten out trying to dead-bat or leave the balls coming into him. 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Despite Unwanted First, Jasprit Bumrah Equals Ex-Teammate For Elite Test Record
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