South Africa's legendary pacer Dale Steyn has backed England captain Ben Stokes amidst criticism over frustration he showed after Ravindra Jadeja refused to shake his hand and to call it a draw at The Old Trafford, Manchester.
Steyn expressed his opinion after South Africa's left-arm chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi wrote a post about Jadeja and Washington Sundar deserving to on to get their respective hundreds. Shamsi wonders why there is a controversy over India refusing a draw as their batters refused to take the draw as they were nearing milestones.
"Why is there such a big deal being made about the Indians choosing not to accept the offer to end the game in a draw immediately?" Shamsi wrote on X.
"The offer was made..the offer was rejected n they were fully entitled to make their choice. They got their 100s which they worked hard for. Game over."
Steyn feels the batters were batting for a draw, not hundreds. If the Indian duo wanted to go for milestones, they should have been more aggressive before.
"Shamo (Shamsi) this onion has many layers to it, and each one will make someone cry. The only issue I see here is the one thing people aren’t realizing, the batters weren’t playing for 100s, they were batting for a DRAW. That was the goal. Draw the game. Once that was accomplished, and a result was out of the question a handshake was offered, that’s the gentlemanly thing to do right? It’s not then the time to realize they safe and now say no we’d prefer some free milestones… although within the rules, just seems a little, well, odd. That said, they did bat well, and maybe with the last hour approaching they should have been more aggressive in reaching those milestones, at least then, we could all agree, no team tried to out do the other in this weird situation," Steyn opined.
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Shamsi-Steyn conversation continues
Shamsi did not change his stance and said that it was a decision that had to be made by both sides, not one.
"Thats true ledge but I just think both sides have a right to make their own decision. Just because the option for the draw was given it doesnt mean the other team has to take it. If you wana call the shots about how long I can bat ...get me out! Atleast thats how I see it," Shamsi replied.
Steyn went on to point out that with game done and dusted, it is pointless to go for personal milestones.
"Well I don’t think any one individual calls the shots for how long someone can bat, it’s just the rule that teams can shake with a hour left. The game was Eng going for a win, India going for a draw, time says it’s pointless to play on, neither TEAM will win/lose so handshakes and walk off. That final hour isn’t reserved for personal goals. As they say, there’s no I in team," Steyn continued to explain his point of view.
"That said, if it were you and me batting on 90 each, it would take a tank to pull us off that field! Haha" he joked.
England lead the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 by 2-1. Shubman Gill's India will have a chance to draw the series at Kennington Oval, London in the fifth Test which begins on July 31.