MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 27: England captain Ben Stokes speaks with India batsman Ravindra Jadeja after day five of the 4th Test Match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 27, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
England captain Ben Stokes, who will miss the final Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, finally broke his silence over the “handshake saga” that became the talking point of the Old Trafford Test last week.Drama unfolded in the high-intensity fourth Test after Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused England skipper Ben Stokes’ offer to call off the fourth Test and settle for a draw before the start of the final hour of play.Having worked hard to earn a creditable draw, Jadeja and Washington, batting on 89 and 80 respectively, flatly refused Stokes’ offer after he had approached the umpire, which irked the England skipper no end.Stokes had a few words to say as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were also seen enquiring as to why India wanted to carry on.“Do you want to score a hundred against Harry Brook?” Stokes asked sarcastically, and all Jadeja said was, “I can’t do anything.”A smiling Jadeja maintained his grace and ticked them off, as India, as per rules, were well within their rights to carry on batting.Stokes defended his decision to offer the handshake to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.“I understand why Jadeja and Sundar wanted to get their 100s, but I was not going to bowl my bowlers. We are over it, India are over it. Let’s not focus on those 20 minutes; it has been a great series,” Stokes told reporters on the eve of the Oval Test.
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Stokes, who has led the team from the front and has claimed 17 wickets while scoring some vital runs with the bat, will miss out on the game at The Oval due to a shoulder injury, while Archer has been rested after making his return to Test cricket following a long gap of four years.Pacer Brydon Carse will also miss the final Test, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a press release on Wednesday.“Captain Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a right shoulder injury. Also missing out are spinner Liam Dawson and pace bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse.“England have included Jacob Bethell, who will bat at No. 6. Surrey bowlers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton come into the side, along with Nottinghamshire quick Josh Tongue,” the ECB said.
