Ben Stokes' handshake antics show why everyone hates England

The Age

29-07-2025

England's sullen and ungracious conduct at the end of an Old Trafford Test match they dominated served up easy half volleys for their critics, quick to leap on perceived double standards.
But it also gave England a glimpse of what awaits in Australia. The headlines overnight said it all: Spare us the whinging, England, Moral hypocrites, England decide tons are anti-cricket and Spirit of what? How pompous England exposed Bazball's great double standard.
A familiar storm is gathering, and England gave it plenty of energy. A barrage of this stuff awaits in November, more so than any Ashes tour since 2013-14 when Alastair Cook's team were the first to follow the 2010-11 winners. Then Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad were public enemies No.1 and No.2. This time it will be Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
The Australians respect Stokes but fear what he can do. McCullum they see as someone who always failed on their turf when it mattered. There is nothing England can do to prevent the inevitable attacks, but they can at least make them harder to justify.
What England did on Sunday night was lame, but the theory that Indian teams play for personal milestones is one shared by Australia. In fact, England's reaction was very Australian. Matthew Hayden once picked up on the 'milestone culture' in Indian cricket.
'We don't really play for stats. We play for wins. That's the Aussie way,' said Steve Waugh, but it could just as easily have been Stokes. England's mistake was making it look petty rather than pointed.
Managing individuals is part of a captain's job. Shubman Gill recognised the importance of a maiden Test hundred for Washington Sundar and the great spade work Ravi Jadeja put in for his team throughout the series. He also revelled in sticking up two fingers at England after how they finished the Lord's Test.