 "British rugby fans shoot down a ‘Ben Stokes style’ offer for a draw in Australia: 'What’s the point of competition?'")
England and India served up a Test series for the ages this summer with the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England ending in a 2-2 draw following India’s dramatic six-run victory at The Oval on Monday. And among the standout moments in the intensely-fought Test series that many experts are labeling as one of the greatest in the history of the sport and the most dramatic since the iconic 2005 Ashes was Ben Stokes' handshake drama on the final day of the fourth Test in Manchester.
The England captain, after all, grew frustrated as he watched the prospect of a series-clinching victory gradually slip away thanks to a defiant response from the Indian batting lineup. And at the start of the final hour on Day 5, Stokes walked up to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar offering a draw , with the two all-rounders closing in on their centuries.
Stokes and his teammates would then unleash a verbal tirade at the two Indians at the centre following their refusal, though that hardly affected Jadeja and Sundar as they brought up their centuries, the latter scoring a ton for the first time in international cricket.
England, meanwhile, were lambasted for their behaviour towards the end of the fourth Test, especially for attempting two deny two lower middle-order batters well-deserved centuries.
Stokes handshake controversy finds mention in rugby
The handshake controversy even found mention in rugby union, where Stokes’ gesture became a talking point during a game between the British and Irish Lions and Australia in Sydney over the weekend. A total of 16 Lions fans were asked if they’d accept an offer for a draw like Stokes to the Indians in Manchester, and each one of them shook their head in disagreement.
“I’m gonna see if I can get someone to shake the hand on a drawn series, Ben Stokes style,” said an ABC reporter covering the game at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You’ve got to win. That’s what we came all the way here for…” said one fan in response.
“No. You play to win, man. Or you’ve been beat,” replied another.
“What’s the point of competition if you call it a draw?” said another.
It’s worth nothing that the fans weren’t explicitly offering their opinion on Stokes’ gesture but on the prospect of a draw in the contact sport.
It’s also worth noting that Stokes has some connection with the sport of rugby – his late father Gerard having represented New Zealand in rugby league and later having served as coach.
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