‘I don't have regrets': Stokes doubles down on fiery handshake drama

News.com.au

2 days ago

Injured England captain Ben Stokes insists that he does not regret his actions from the final day handshake drama during the drawn fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford.
Stokes, who will sit out the series finale starting Thursday with a right shoulder injury, offered the draw to Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar at the drinks break in the final session of day five in Manchester, but spat the dummy when the pair of all-rounders refused to shake Stokes' hand.
India were four wickets down and led by 71 runs at the time with both Jadeja and Washington closing on centuries - a first in Test cricket for the latter - and Stokes was furious that the two batters wanted to push on to their personal milestones.
In an already feisty series, Stokes poured more fuel on the fire by telling Jadeja: 'You're going to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook and Ben Duckett'.
He then refused to continue using his front line bowlers and instead allowed Brook to lob up pies in what was an embarrassing end to the Test match.
But Stokes says he does not regret how the situation unfolded, nor how he handled it, despite gaining greater perspective on India's viewpoint.
'I don't have regrets, but it is one of those when you have not been in the field for 250 overs, you do have a bit more of an understanding towards both sides,' Stokes said.
'Two lads in Jadeja and Washington played incredibly well up until that point, so you sort of understand as to why as they wanted to stay out there and get their 100s.
'But as I said at the end of the game, fair enough but I am not going to bowl my bowlers in a situation where we can't win the game.
'We are over it, I think India are over that whole thing.
'Let's just try our best not to focus on a 20-minute period of cricket when it has been such a great series so far.'
The incident was the latest in an ever-growing list throughout the five-Test series which England leads 2-1.
Tempers flared in the days leading up to The Oval finale when Indian coach Gautam Gambhir had a run in with head curator Lee Fortis over not being allowed to inspect the pitch up close, and a cool box being put on the square as India practised.
Things also got hot under the collar during the third Test at Lords as India did not take kindly to England's time wasting tactics when they managed to face only one over late on day three despite having to bat for seven minutes.
Stokes' opposite number Shubman Gill, who has been a revelation with the bat since being handed the captaincy making four centuries in the series, was certain in his pre-match press conference that both teams were able to leave the on field spats behind them.
'I think I have already explained what happened at Lord's and about even the incident that happened on the last day in the previous Test,' Gill said.
'Both the teams have been very competitive. And sometimes when you are competitive, you know, in the heat of the moment, you do or say things that you might not do (otherwise).
'But I think once the match is over, there is mutual respect between both the teams.'
Stokes shared similar sentiments, saying that 'it has been a tough series, but it has been class to play in'.
'It has been a test of characters, a test of physicality, all that kind of stuff, and I think the way each team has fronted up every single day and every single session giving everything for their countries is testament to how much this format means to England and India and every other team in the world,' he added.
'The easy option would just be to not turn up and give up, but you have seen both teams turn up every day, give everything, and leave everything out on the field.
'I don't think it will be any different this week.'
Stokes is set to be sidelined for six to seven weeks as a result of his shoulder issue, and he is one of four changes to the England XI for the fifth Test.
Highly touted 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who batted at number three during their tour of New Zealand late last year despite never having scored a professional century, will take Stokes' place at number six.
Bethell will also take on the all-rounder duties as a spin option alongside Joe Root with fellow left arm spinner Liam Dawson discarded after playing at Old Trafford following an eight-year hiatus from the Test side.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse also make way with Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton all coming into the side to form a four-man pace attack alongside Chris Woakes.
Ollie Pope will take on captaincy duties in Stokes absence, as he did for the home series against Sri Lanka and for the first Test of the Pakistan last year.
'We have got some incredible leaders out in that 11 still,' Stokes said.
'I know I am captain, but I seek advice from quite a few people, and we have got some fantastic cricket brains out there.
'We have got a team of 11 match-winners; one person doesn't win you a game.
'Just because I am playing or not, it doesn't mean we are going to win or lose.
'We have had some people put in some special individual performances throughout this series and this is another opportunity for 11 people to be able to put their hand up and hopefully win a game for England as well.'
India on the other hand are set to be without superstar fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as part of the management of his troublesome pack.
Entertaining wicket keeper batter Rishabh Pant will also be sidelined with the foot injury he sustained while batting in Manchester, but the final make up of India's XI remains uncertain.