Sydney, Australia – Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has weighed in on the contentious “handshake-gate” incident from the recently drawn fourth Test between England and India in Manchester, offering a blunt assessment that has further fueled the ongoing cricket debate. Lyon’s comments, made during a media interaction for the Melbourne Renegades, directly addressed England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to offer an early draw while Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were nearing centuries.
The Manchester “Handshake-Gate” Explained
The controversy unfolded on the final day of the fourth Test. With India having staged a remarkable comeback from 0/2 to a position of safety, and Ravindra Jadeja (89*) and Washington Sundar (80*) at the crease and approaching their maiden Test centuries, England captain Ben Stokes reportedly approached the Indian batters and offered a handshake to declare the match a draw.
However, the Indian duo declined, opting to continue batting and strive for their individual milestones. This decision reportedly irked Stokes and some of his England teammates, who were seen expressing their frustration on the field. Eventually, both Jadeja and Sundar reached their centuries before the draw was mutually agreed upon.
Lyon’s Blunt Message: “Get Them Out. Don’t Let Them Get a Hundred.”
Nathan Lyon’s remarks came as a direct jab at England’s frustration. When asked about the incident, Lyon’s response was sharp and to the point: “Get them out. Don’t let them get a hundred.” This straightforward comment has been widely interpreted as a criticism of England’s bowling attack for their inability to dismiss the Indian batters, implying that if England truly wanted the game to end earlier, they should have focused on taking wickets rather than offering a premature handshake.
A Dig at England’s “Bazball” and Pitch Conditions
Beyond the handshake controversy, Lyon also took the opportunity to comment on England’s much-discussed “Bazball” approach and the nature of the pitches in the ongoing series. While acknowledging that “Bazball” might be evolving to be less “reckless” and more focused on winning, Lyon stressed the importance of competitive pitches that offer a balance between bat and ball. He specifically criticized the Old Trafford surface, which yielded only 24 wickets over five days, stating, “That’s the way cricket should be, you want to see competition between bat and ball… all the fans, that’s what they want to see, they don’t really want to watch what happened over in Manchester last week.”
Ashes Mind Games Ahead
Lyon’s comments are not only a reflection on the current India-England series but also serve as a subtle piece of “Ashes mind games” ahead of Australia’s upcoming Test series against England later this year. The veteran off-spinner, who is already preparing for the challenge of facing England’s aggressive batting style, emphasized his eagerness for the contest and revealed he is working on plans to counter their approach. His remarks signal that the rivalry between the two cricketing powerhouses remains as intense as ever, with the recent handshake drama adding another layer to the narrative.
