While wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is winning plaudits for his courageous innings of 54 in the first innings of the ongoing fourth Manchester Test against England, pacers Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer kept bowling yorkers and bouncers to the southpaw, which was not liked by a lot of experts and fans. The spirit of play was questioned, more so because the host nation always prides itself on playing with utmost pride and within the spirit of play.
The southpaw fractured his right toe after he missed a sweep of Chris Woakes' bowling on Day 1 of the Old Trafford Test. The wicketkeeper-batter was retired out on 37, and only came out to bat on Day 2 when India lost the first wicket that day. He was greeted with loud cheers and applause from the Manchester crowd. However, that was slowly diminished to a few jeers from the Indian crowds who saw how Stokes and Archer bowled to the injured Pant.
The England skipper, like he did in the Lord's Test, bowled unchanged to 10 on Day two also. The all-rounder was steadfast in taking wickets and bundling the visitors out to below 400. Stokes and Archer succeeded in the mission as India could only score 358 in the first innings. The skipper ended up taking a fifer, while Archer ended up taking three wickets.
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Ben Stokes & Jofra Archer's bouncer barrage to injured Rishabh Pant questions the spirit of play
There is no doubt that Rishabh Pant's grit, character, and determination were appreciated by all, and he was also compared to other cricketers who battled like the southpaw despite copping blows to the body. One fondly remembers former South Africa captain Graeme Smith walking with a fractured finger and denying Australia victory in the Sydney Test in 2008. Anil Kumble, bowling with a fractured jaw, was also revered by most of the experts and fans. Even off-spinner Nathan Lyon coming out to bat in the Ashes 2023 series against England with a broken calf is also an incident that fans remember fondly.
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However, in Pant's case, Stokes and Archer's bouncer barrage was more discussed and criticized by fans. While nothing happened to the batter, England's ploy highly questioned the spirit of play. The pacers could have learned from Pant's heroism, courage, and character and refrained from bowling too many yorkers or bouncers. But regardless of that, the southpaw's innings will be spoken of for a long time.
