The fourth Test of the series between India and England in Manchester ended up being a draw as both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja went on to score fantastic centuries and the visitors wrapped up the final day on 469/4. However, a lot of drama was caused during the last few overs of Day 5 which saw players from both sides get into arguments. It all began when India refused to take up England captain Ben Stokes' offer and call the match a draw with 15 overs remaining.
The Men in Blue refused due to the fact that both Jadeja and Sundar were close to score their hundreds. This move ended up leaving the England camp very frustrated as they started brutally sledging both the batters. Stokes put part-timers Joe Root and Harry Brook into the attack and soon, both Jadeja and Sundar moved into triple ffigures which saw the visitors call it a day.
Cook sided with the Indian team over the matter
This act from the England was slammed by former captain Alastair Cook, who stated that Sundar and Jadeja were well within their right to not accept Stokes' offer and continue batting. He further stated that England team weren't keep a hold of their 'frustration' and thus, ended up losing their cool.
“It was the right decision for them to carry on for the momentum they'll gain from it. When you're out on the field, when you have been out there for 140 overs, you get frustrated. So there's a little bit of frustration for England,” Cook said on BBC Sport.
“I understand why India did it. Five years down the line, you look at the scorecard, you'll see two brilliant hundreds to save the game. Plus Shubman Gill's as well. So it will be forgotten about Harry Brook's 37mph ball,” he added.
The whole drama caused by the England team didn't end up benefitting them by any means as they weren't able to pressurize either off Sundar or Jadeja to give away their wickets. The duo's heroics got the Men in Blue a hard-fought draw and also denied England of sealing the series with one game still to go.
Meanwhile, the fifth and final match of the series is set to commence from July 31 at The Oval in London. The draw at Old Trafford meant that India lost all their chances of scripting their first Test triumph on English soil since 2007. However, they still do have the chance to win the final match and end the series as a draw. But, with England leading by 2-1, it is safe to say that they will be going into the fifth Test as the favourites to lift the first-ever Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.