Ben Stokes accuses ICC of siding with Indian players on disciplinary issues
England all rounder Ben Stokes has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of supporting the Indian players on disciplinary issues. The 25-year old went on to demand the same disciplinary sanctions that those from his team have received relating to the slew of on-field incidents during the ongoing Test series between the two sides.
Although he did not name any particular player, it was quite obvious as to whom he was referring to. His words highlight the growing discontentment within the England camp regarding the way in which the on-field standoffs have been handled by the relevant authorities.
Stokes felt, “It’s theater for people who want to see it. It’s part of the game, so I don’t see any reason why they should try to clamp down on it so quickly. But if it’s going to be one rule, it’s got to be the same rule for everyone. You can’t just be letting certain people get away with certain things and not others. I think that side of the game can be just jumped on and people get slapped with fines and all that stuff. But if you’re going to do someone, then you’ve got to do the next person no matter who they are or who they play for.”
When asked if he was alluding to certain leading players like Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, the Christchurch-born cricketer added, “I don’t know, I don’t look into it that much. But as I say, whoever is deciding who is going to get what disciplinary action against them, it should be the same for everyone.”
Even as India have dominated the series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead with one match left, the intense action has resulted in extravagant send-offs on the field and unwarranted trash talk outside of it. During the 3rd Test at Mohali, Stokes and Kohli repeatedly had a go at each other through mocking gestures.
While he received an official reprimand and a demerit point to his disciplinary record, the Indian skipper got away without any damage. Stokes reacted to ICC’s decision by mockingly celebrating Kohli’s wicket with his hands over his mouth. After getting rid of the former in the second innings, the latter placed his fingers over his mouth in obvious response.
On their duels, Stokes noted, “We’re both very competitive people who let our emotions show. It probably won’t be the last time we’re both involved in something but I don’t hold grudges. He (Kohli) is one of the batsmen of our time and you’ve just got to hold your hands up to him and appreciate the player that he is.”
Individual battles add spice to Chennai Test
During the Mumbai Test, Parthiv Patel kick-started a war of words by claiming that England’s bowlers had been ‘exposed’ in Mohali. Not the one to take anything lying down, England responded with a verbal attack of their own. After Kohli had smashed a double century and taken his series tally beyond 600 runs, James Anderson took a jibe by insisting that Indian pitches take the right-hander’s flaws ‘out of the equation’.
When the experienced seamer walked into bat on the fifth day, he was surrounded by the Indian players and a visibly livid Ashwin welcomed him with a barrage of words. But, the pro-active umpires intervened at the right time to prevent anything untoward from happening. Needless to say, Anderson's comments stirred up the hornet’s nest and the controversy could boil over to the fifth Test in Chennai.
Even though it might not affect the series result, the final match which begins on Friday promises to be an enthralling affair with player-to-player battles heating up the arena.