“Should’ve bowled Harry Brook for 15 overs”- Ravi Ashwin says Ben Stokes should’ve shown ‘spirit of cricket’ after India refused handshakes

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lashed out at Ben Stokes for creating a fuss over India not accepting his offer for a draw on Day 5 of the recent Manchester Test between England and India.

The two left-handers, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who at the moment were unbeaten on 89 and 80 apiece, continued to try to stay on the field with hundreds in sight. That incensed the English camp, too, and they began insulting the Indian batters.

Videos revealed that Stokes questioned Jadeja about whether he really wanted to get 100 against players like Harry Brook and Ben Duckett.

The Indian hitters smiled and reacted calmly in response. Jadeja told the English players that it was Coach Gautam Gambhir and Captain Shubman Gill who had decided to continue batting, not him.

Ravi Ashwin slams ‘spirit of cricket’ ambassador Ben Stokes after his handshake drama.

An enraged Ashwin asserted in a video posted on his YouTube channel that India had every right to turn down Stokes' offer to compromise for a draw.

The former Indian cricket player made fun of the England captain by saying that if Stokes wanted to demonstrate that he was the brand ambassador for cricket's ethos, he ought to have bowled Harry Brook for the following fifteen overs.

Ashwin's comments follow Stokes' decision to deploy part-time bowler Brook soon after he was rejected when he shook hands with Sundar and Jadeja.

“What is the rule? If both captains believe that the game cannot head towards a result, they can shake hands within the mandatory overs and call it a draw. Stokes had two reasons—he didn’t want to tire out his bowlers, and he was frustrated and hence did not want the other team to be happy too. The second one isn’t in the rules. If I were the Indian captain, I would have said to play all the remaining 15 overs. My question to England is, if you are the brand ambassador for the spirit of cricket, then you should have bowled Harry Brook for 15 overs. It would have been a great advertisement,” Ashwin said.

See here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMo7o26olh-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ben Stokes disclosed the cause of his annoyance after the game. He continued by saying that he did not want to put the pacers at risk of injury because The Oval Test was just three days away.

“All the hard work was done by India. Didn’t want to risk my fast bowlers with any injuries towards the end. Liam Dawson bowled a lot of overs too. Even before this Test, there were conversations around how much effort and energy have gone into the bowling department. Bowlers will be assessed over the next couple of days,” Stokes said.

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