Drama at Old Trafford after Ben Stokes offers a draw to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar: ‘Jaddu, do you want to get a Test 100 against Brook & Duckett?’

With the last over of play about to start at Old Trafford on Day 5 of the fourth Test, things got dramatic. India had fought tooth and nail to ensure that England were not going to win after a fabulous partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. And draw imminent, captain Ben Stokes went to the Indian batters and offered his hand to call and end to the match before the last hour’s play was to start. But with Jadeja and Washington batting on 89 and 80, the Indians didn’t take the offer from Stokes and chose to continue batting.

The relevant rule in the Playing Conditions for Test cricket is “12.7.6 Last Hour” and reads: A minimum of 15 overs shall be bowled in the last hour and all calculations with regard to suspensions of play or the start of a new innings shall be based on 1 over for each full 4 minutes (refer to clause 12.7.9 below). 22 On the final day, if both captains (the batters at the wicket may act for their captain) accept that there is no prospect of either side achieving a victory, they may agree to finish the match after (a) the time for the commencement of the last hour has been reached OR (b) there are a minimum of 15 overs to be bowled, whichever is the later.

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