London, July 28: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has come out in defence of Ben Stokes, backing the current skipper’s visible frustration after India declined his offer to settle for a draw during the final hour of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
With no realistic result on the horizon and England’s bowlers visibly drained after two grueling days in the field, Stokes had extended a handshake to the Indian batters, inviting them to end the match early. However, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar — both nearing their individual centuries — chose to bat on, prompting a visibly irked reaction from the England captain.
Pietersen took to social media to lend support to Stokes, urging critics to understand the physical and emotional toll of the game before passing judgment from the sidelines.
“Two days fielding and no result on the cards — you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration,” Pietersen posted. “Very easy to criticise when you’re sitting in your lounge watching. You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.”England had indeed endured a long haul in the fourth Test, bowling a combined total of 143 overs in India’s second innings alone — most of which yielded just two wickets. In the first innings, they had already bowled 114.1 overs, conceding 358 runs. Stokes, despite nursing a shoulder issue, delivered 24 overs in the first innings and another 11 on the final day, underlining his commitment even in discomfort.
As the series heads into its concluding chapter, the tension between competitive spirit and sportsmanship has once again taken centre stage — a reminder of the high stakes and emotions that come with Test cricket at the highest level. (Agencies)
