Ravi Ashwin rips apart Ben Stokes for Manchester Test antics

England delivered a brilliant all-round mastery over the visitors in the fourth Test. The dominance was headlined by the captain, Ben Stokes himself. The skipper scalped a five-wicket haul in the opening innings to push India on the back foot right at the start of the Manchester Test. Moreover, the all-rounder ended his century drought of over two years in the longer format, scoring 141 runs and building a 311-run lead over the guests. While India fought valiantly to force a draw, Ben Stokes had a chance to end the fourth India vs England Test on a high off the back of his performance. However, the skipper opted to wash it away with his distasteful conduct in the concluding moments of the fixture.

"Bring any bowler": Ravi Ashwin slams Ben Stokes for his jibe at Ravindra Jadeja in Manchester Test

After a dismal run across three days of the Manchester Test, India's batting order showed up with a gritty stand against England. Playing against the momentous lead of 311 runs, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar came up with defining knocks to avert a defeat in the fourth India vs England Test. The fixture could have been an impressive tale of England's dominance and India's fightback. However, Ben Stokes and his team, with their conduct on Day 5 of the Test, have riled up the fans and the fraternity.

India, having mounted a determined fightback left England visibly unsettled by the end of the Manchester Test. As the match drifted toward an inevitable draw, Stokes attempted to wrap up the play early, suggesting a handshake. What he seemed to overlook, however, was that both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were on the verge of reaching personal milestones, their centuries. For India, agreeing to Stokes’ proposal was never an option.

When India declined, England’s frustration became apparent. Stokes and his team resorted to bowling easy, putting Harry Brook in the attack and mocking the Indian batters for getting an easy deal. India not only secured the draw at Old Trafford but also kept the series alive heading into the decisive final Test at The Oval. Stokes’ approach drew criticism from several quarters, including former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has long been vocal about respecting the spirit and rules of the game.

What particularly irritated Ashwin was Stokes’ comment to Jadeja where he asked if Jadeja wanted to score your hundred against Harry Brook. Ashwin, clearly unimpressed, reminded the England captain that the integrity of a Test match cannot be dictated by one individual’s impatience. He even remarked, sarcastically, that if Stokes truly wished to control outcomes, he might as well call retired England legends back to the field just to prevent opponents from proving them wrong.

"Have you heard the term double standards? They played your bowlers all day, batted you out, and suddenly, when they're nearing hundreds, you want to walk off? Why should they?" an irate Ashwin expressed. "You ask, 'You want to make a hundred against Harry?' Not Brook, brother. He has to make a hundred. Bring any bowler, they won’t object. Why Brook? Call Steve Harmison, call Andrew Flintoff for all we care. It was your call to bring Brook, not ours," he further slammed Stokes' conduct.

Never the one to hold back in expressing his opinions, Ashwin tore into Ben Stokes with a lengthy rant. Ashwin’s broader point was blunt where he stated that Stokes’ frustration gave rise to an unnecessary controversy. Cricket, he stressed, is not played according to a single player’s whims. Jadeja and Sundar had earned the right to complete their centuries after resisting England’s attack for nearly two full sessions, during which the hosts remained wicketless and increasingly exasperated.