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Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin wasn't a fan of England trying to forcibly end the match against India at Old Trafford. After the Men in Blue declined Ben Stokes' offer of taking a draw with 15 overs left on Day 5, the England team started to taunt batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Stokes even put in part-timers Joe Root and Harry Brook into the attack.
It was only after both Jadeja and Sundar reached their centuries that India decided to declare. Haddin firmly stated that England had no right to force India to end the match just because things weren't going their way. He also praised the Men in Blue for not meeting Stokes' demands and carrying on with the game.
Haddin was left impressed with India's batting in Manchester Test
"It's interesting at the end of that Test match because India were two for none. So England are up and about. They thought they were going to win the Test. And that was an unbelievable partnership. Gill once again, KL Rahul was outstanding. And as the game went on, and India showed tremendous fight, unbelievable, the application they showed to bat," Haddin said on LiSTNR Sport on YouTube.
"Then, all of a sudden, it got to a situation where England said they can't win, so let's stop the game. So everything's got to stop because England are done playing. I like what India did, mate, they earned the right to stay out there as long as they need to. They had the right to get a hundred. And just because it didn't go England's way and they didn't get the answer that they wanted, all of a sudden, they're not happy," he added.
Haddin further remarked that England had many chances to win the game, however mistakes in the field ended up costing them big time. He added that India weren't in the wrong whatsoever as they had earned the right to stay a little longer on the field.
"They started to get verbal. Duckett and Crawley both reacted in a way I think Australia can really have a look at. But if things don't go England's way and they don't get the rub of the green, all of a sudden, it's everyone else's problem. So well done to India for staying out there," Haddin stated.
"Well done for getting a draw. When England were dropping all those catches, they gave enough chances to win the Test match. That's what they should be looking at, not that India decided they wanted to stay on a little bit longer because they'd earned the right," he further added.
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Meanwhile, India head into the fifth and final Test against England, trailing 2-1 in the series. The Men in Blue may have lost all their chances of triumphing in the series after the previous match at Old Trafford ended in a draw, however they still can level it up if they manage to record a victory at The Oval in the fifth Test which is set to commence from July 31. But, England will definitely be the favourites to lift the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as even a draw in London will see them win the series.
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