Former England cricketer Mark Ramprakash has criticised the English cricket team's behaviour during the final moments of the Manchester Test match against India, where stump microphone caught exchanges between players regarding Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar's decision to continue batting for their centuries despite England's offer to end the match in a draw.
The incident occurred in the last 30 minutes of play when England captain Ben Stokes approached the Indian batters to propose ending the match early. At that time, Jadeja was batting on 89 and Sundar on 80.
The Indians declined the offer and continued batting, with Jadeja going on to score his second Test century and Sundar achieving his maiden Test hundred before agreeing to conclude the match in a draw.
The stump microphone captured Stokes saying to Jadeja, "Jaddu, do you want to get a Test 100 against Brook & Duckett?" To which Jadeja responded, "What do you want me to do, just walk off?" England's Zak Crawley was also heard adding, "You can, just shake your hand."
"The stump microphone and words don't reflect well on Ben Stokes' team, who, let's be fair, are doing a fantastic job of reinvigorating Test cricket. They are playing wonderfully well. The cricket has been on such high class that it is a shame to dwell on it," Ramprakash told Sky Sports.
Ramprakash questioned the fairness of England's approach, suggesting a double standard might exist. "You have to wonder if England had a player on 90 not out, would we have continued. We hear about England players being very proud on being on the honour boards at Lord's and other grounds because those milestones are huge achievements. I can understand where India were coming from," he said.
"I think Ben was possibly a bit premature going up (to the Indian batters) in the way he did. It has to be agreed by the opposition captain," Ramprakash added.
Ramprakash defended the Indian players' decision to continue batting, particularly highlighting the significance of the moment for Washington Sundar. "India had one player, Washington Sundar, who hadn't got a hundred before and I know that England side like to not think about milestones but for that player, he may never get there again. It was quite a big moment for him. And equally for Jadeja to try and get another Test hundred. They kind of earned the right to stay on, I suppose, from their point of view," he said.
The match ultimately ended in a draw after both Indian batters reached their respective centuries, with Jadeja hitting a six off Harry Brook's bowling to reach his milestone.
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