Brad Haddin slammed England for Manchester Day 5 drama: India did what needed to be done

All the way from its brutal skill and patience to mental toughness, Test cricket doesn’t know different with the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Just what happened in the last hours set the cricketing world talking, especially when England captain Ben Stokes offered to end the match early, with a win looking outside their reach. Brad Haddin slammed England for this act. Nevertheless, it is the Indian spirit of truly holding on to the game that stole the show, winning them hearts and runs.

This was a match where, apart from the draw, it taught resilience and pride for fans and sports lovers on Starexchange, where real-time updates and inplay game predictions take you to the ground.

Turning Point: India Refuses to Settle Early

On the last day, England had India shaken, two wickets down, no runs on board. Dreaming of a dramatic victory, they began puffing their chests. But Indian batters Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar had something else in mind.

Post-Rahul’s dismissal, Gill played an exquisitely patient knock on a rather tricky wicket. Together with Sundar and then Jadeja, India resisted the English storm and began building together a granite-like partnership.

Not long after, however, the match began a distinct tilt in the other direction. When the realization dawned that a result was no longer likely, Stokes approached the umpire with an offer – an amicable termination to the match. In accordance with ICC Test rules, both captains can agree on a handshake and declare the match drawn when the likelihood of a result is rather dim.

However, India did not fancy cutting a premature deal.

Jadeja and Sundar Stand Tall

At the moment of Stokes’ proposal, Ravindra Jadeja was on 89 with Washington Sundar on 80, both well on their way to a deserving century. The two Indians were not about to, after enduring the pressure and playing critical roles in saving the match, accept a compromise on test cricket that they had earned. They will take their turn at the crease, not allow English frustration to dictate affairs.

Reports suggest that Stokes was not very pleased by India’s decision to carry on. After much deliberation, the Indian camp stood their ground, while cricket fans on Starexchange were getting stuck into making inplay game predictions for the century milestones. The batters’ approach continued in intent and purpose.

Jadeja and Sundar would eventually hit centuries, much to the duo’s satisfaction and Indian cricket’s pride.

Brad Haddin Backs India’s Stance

Former Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin spoke with bluntness about the incident. On a YouTube channel for LiSTNR Sports, Brad Haddin slammed England, and he commended the stand taken by India in batting and was adverse to that of England.

“They were two down for nothing, and England thought they were in for a win,” said Haddin. “But the way India fought back was outstanding. Gill was classy, Rahul showed resilience, and Sundar and Jadeja demonstrated the value of grit and patience.” 

What Haddin found more annoying was England’s approach after all hope for winning slipped away.

“Just because it didn’t go their way, they wanted to stop everything. That’s not how Test cricket works. India earned the right to continue and reach their milestones.”

Spirit of Test Cricket vs. Stokes’ Frustration

That moment was not just about runs or results — it was about the spirit of the game. A Test match is where the associates work hard for their fruits. India did their work, but they were not out for the draw; they were out for pride, for milestones, and for the being of this format.

And for Starexchange, those who provide insight, timing, and form for making correct inplay game predictions, this match was a reminder of how fast momentum can change, and how often mental strength is greater than conditions.

Final Thoughts

It was on the scoreboard a draw for the Old Trafford Test, but India certainly won in terms of lessons learned and impact felt. England’s call for an early settlement showed a weak moment, while India’s rejection was not just an assertion of mental strength but also a matter of respect for the format. Brad Haddin slammed England and backed India for this.

Be it the cricket purist or that adolescent enjoying live match predictions on Starexchange, this Test reminded each of us that every run, every session, and every call matters. And sometimes, it is winning simply to play to the end.

Get ahead of the game with real-time updates and smart predictions only on Starexchange — where cricket meets your instincts.

FAQs

Q1: What is Starexchange?

A: The Starexchange platform provides live sports updates and gives users a chance for real-time sports predictions for cash prizes.

Q2: What is inplay game prediction? 

A: Inplay game prediction refers to making predictions at the moment along with a live match. Through Starexchange, users can predict the match outcome while the game is on. 

Q3: Why did India refuse Ben Stokes’ offer to end the Test early?

A: Indian batters Jadeja and Sundar were nearing centuries and had fought hard to save the game. They felt they had earned the right to continue batting and reach personal milestones.

Q4: How does Starexchange help with inplay predictions?

A: With real-time data at Starexchange, player performance insights, and match analysis, we help users with informed in-play game predictions.