The fourth Test at Old Trafford ended in a hard-fought draw, but the closing moments of the match saw emotions run high, especially from England captain Ben Stokes. With the game heading towards an inevitable draw on Day 5, Stokes appeared eager to call off play early. However, India, still chasing personal milestones, declined his offer, leading to a visibly frustrated response from the England skipper. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar both went on to score centuries, with Stokes even tossing the ball to Harry Brook in an attempt to wrap up proceedings quickly. Brook’s gentle delivery was dispatched for six by Jadeja, who brought up his hundred. Later, Brook too offered to call it off before Sundar could complete his ton, but the focus remained firmly on Stokes’ reaction.
Stokes’ decision and visible agitation didn’t go unnoticed. Former England captain Nasser Hussain remarked, “Stokes didn’t have to bowl Brook, and it looked a bit silly at the end there.” Sanjay Manjrekar, former India batter, went further, calling Stokes’ behaviour “spoiled.” But Kevin Pietersen came out strongly in support of his former teammate. Taking to X, the 45-year-old defended Stokes’ emotional response, saying, “2 days fielding and no result on the cards – you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration.” He continued, “Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching. You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.”
Kevin Pietersen on X (Screengrab)
Pietersen insisted that while Stokes was right to feel agitated, it shouldn’t take away from India’s batting effort. “The Stokes issue should NOT distract from the batters who batted to save the Test Match! Outstanding effort and one which makes The Oval a very important Test.”
Poll
Do you think Ben Stokes was justified in his frustration during the Test match?
The draw leaves the series finely balanced heading into the final Test at The Oval. India will be on a high, buoyed by gritty efforts from KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and Sundar. England, meanwhile, will look to regroup and seal the series with a win.
