ENG vs IND 2025: 'Australia will have a look' - Brad Haddin fires Ashes warning to England after Manchester row against India

In the aftermath of the dramatic final hour of the fourth Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin sent a strong message to England in light of the ongoing no- handshake episode between England and India cricketers.

Haddin took issue with the behavior of England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who were seen engaging in a verbal exchange with Indian batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The Indian duo had formed a resilient partnership while nearing individual centuries, with the match heading toward a draw.

Haddin viewed Stokes' approach questionable and felt that Jadeja and Sundar were justified in continuing their innings given the effort they had put in to rescue the match for India. Haddin served a subtle warning to England ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, suggesting that Crawley and Duckett could come under close scrutiny from the Australians.

“It's interesting at the end of that Test match because India were two for none. So England are up and about. They thought they were going to win the Test. And that was an unbelievable partnership. Gill once again, KL Rahul was outstanding. And as the game went on, and India showed tremendous fight, unbelievable, the application they showed to bat,” Haddin said on LiSTNR Sport.

"Then, all of a sudden, it got to a situation where England said they can't win, so let's stop the game. So everything's got to stop because England are done playing. I like what India did, mate, they earned the right to stay out there as long as they need to. They had the right to get a hundred. And just because it didn't go England's way and they didn't get the answer that they wanted, all of a sudden, they're not happy,” he added.

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As the match moved into its final phase with no result in sight, England captain approached Jadeja and Sundar to suggest ending the game with a handshake. However, the Indian batters declined the offer and continued their innings. England openers were seen engaging with the pair, making remarks interpreted as attempts to pressure them into giving up the chase for their centuries.

“They started to get verbal. Duckett and Crawley both reacted in a way I think Australia can really have a look at. But if things don't go England's way and they don't get the rub of the green, all of a sudden, it's everyone else's problem. So well done to India for staying out there. Well done for getting a draw. When England were dropping all those catches, they gave enough chances to win the Test match. That's what they should be looking at, not that India decided they wanted to stay on a little bit longer because they'd earned the right,” Haddin said.

Haddin also appeared to support Stokes’ decision to hand the ball to part-timer Harry Brook in the closing overs, suggesting that it was a practical move to manage the workload of England’s frontline bowlers given the short turnaround before the final Test at The Oval.

“I'm okay with that. I'm okay. If England decided that there was not going to be a result, they'd have back-to-back Test matches. No point bowling their front-line bowlers. You want to make sure that they're as fresh as they can be to be available for selection. And that's happened for cricket forever and a day. As I said, the only interesting thing was the reaction when England thought they were done; everyone else had to jump. And India, as we know, they'd earned the right. It's okay to go and bowl Brook, get through the overs. I loved it. I loved the way India just turned their back on him and said, No,” Haddin concluded.