Ben Stokes Explains Decision to Call for Draw in Fourth Test Against India

Stokes' Strategic Call for a Draw

In the final moments of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy held in Manchester, England's captain Ben Stokes clarified his decision to request a draw. The match concluded with a tense exchange between Stokes and Indian players Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

Despite Stokes' request for a draw, both Jadeja and Sundar were eager to continue playing, as they were close to achieving significant personal milestones. Stokes later expressed his frustration, emphasizing his responsibility to manage his bowlers' workload, especially since the match's outcome was already determined.

Jadeja and Sundar formed a formidable partnership, scoring 203 runs for the fifth wicket, with both players reaching their centuries. Stokes commended the Indian team for their resilience and performance against England's bowling attack.

During the post-match presentation, Stokes remarked, 'India did all the hard work; both players performed exceptionally well. I reached a point where the result was inevitable, and I couldn't risk my key fast bowlers getting injured with another game ahead.'

He further noted, 'Liam Dawson had bowled numerous overs and was starting to feel fatigued, so I wasn't willing to jeopardize my frontline bowlers for the last half hour.'

Stokes concluded by praising Jadeja and Sundar for their impressive performance under pressure, stating, 'They deserve a lot of credit for their partnership.'