Ten incidents to remind us that Cricket is still a gentleman's game

Nowadays, you don’t see dignified players walking into the pitch applauded by properly dressed gentleman standing on their feet, applauding. You don’t see the generosity or appreciation that are the core morals of this game.

But, there is hope. Here are 10 reasons to remind us that Cricket is still a Gentleman’s sport.

# 10 – Fielders applauding batsman’s achievement

Sachin Tendulkar of India is congratulated by Australian players on his world record breaking run during day one of the Second Test between India and Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium on October 13, 2008 in Mohali, India. Sachin Tendulkar overtook Brian Lara’s run record of 11,174 Test runs to become the highest Test run scorer in history. (Photo by Global Cricket Ventures/BCCI via Getty Images)

It is tough when a batsman hits you all around the park. It is even tough to watch him celebrate. You don’t see footballers congratulating the opponent for scoring a goal no matter how great that goal is. Bu fortunately, that kind of thing happens in Cricket.

Every West Indian congratulated Sehwag when he scored a double hundred against them. Every Australian congratulated Tendulkar when he became the leading run scorer in Test Cricket at Mohali. There are endless number of incidents where the same thing has happened.

After Makhaya Ntini’s last game got over, all Indians on the pitch went on to congratulate him on marking an end to a fantastic career.

# 9 – Brett Lee vs Sachin Tendulkar, 2008 CB Series

Brett Lee had just bowled a nasty beamer at Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar managed to avoid damage. Most bowlers wouldn’t have cared but Brett Lee made his way towards Sachin Tendulkar and apologised. He was sorry for bowling that ball.

Tendulkar, being a gentleman, accepted Lee’s apology and things were normal once again.

If not for Lee and Tendulkar, this incident could have become nasty. But in the end, the spirit of the game prevailed.

# 8 -Mahendra Singh Dhoni calls back Ian Bell

Ian Bell had hit a four and thought that he could go to his dressing room for drinks. But, what he didn’t know was that Praveen Kumar who was fielding in the deep had actually cut off the ball before it crossed the boundary lines. So, it meant that the ball was not yet “dead”. Even Praveen Kumar was not aware of this.

He casually threw the ball to MS Dhoni who then passed it to Abhinav Mukund. Mukund, sensing these things, took the bails off the stump, technically meaning that Ian Bell was out. The umpires too confirmed this and he was ruled out. Everything that happened was technically correct, but was not within the Spirit of the Game.

When the Indian team entered the pitch after tea, there were boos all over the place. But,then the boos turned into cheers as the crowd saw Ian Bell making his way into the pitch. MS Dhoni had decided to withdraw his appeal. Sportsmanship prevailed in the end.

# 7 – Batsmen walking without being declared out

“Not walking is not cheating” is a saying that justifies Batsman staying at the crease despite knowing that he is out. You cannot ask a Batsman to walk out but you have to agree that it dignifies the sport.

How many times have we seen great batsmen like Adam Gilchrist and Kumar Sangakkara walking even when they are not declared out.

It shows great sportsmanship and dignity that this sport commands.

# 6 – Bastman walking despite being wrongly declared out

Walking despite being declared not out is one thing. But walking when you know that you have been wrongly declared out is totally another thing.

We have seen umpires make blunders that are so very obvious, but how many times have we seen batsmen protesting those decisions? How many times have batsmen stood still and decided not to leave the ground? Never. That, in itself, is a great reason why cricket is a gentleman’s game.

# 5 – Fielders who refuse to run out a batsman

File Photo: Kevin Pietersen colliding with a bowler.

It was the 1987 World Cup. Pakistan needed 2 runs off the final over to win against West Indies. Courtney Walsh began his run up. The Non-striker, Saleem Jaffer was way out of the crease. Walsh stopped, warned him when he could have easily ran him out and went back to begin his run up once again. Pakistan managed to get the final two runs and win the match. But Walsh’s behavior still stands tall.

In another occasion, Daniel Vettori played against Zimbabwe in 2012. He collided with the non-striker after bowling but the striker was halfway across the crease trying to sneak a single. The Kiwis had ran him out. Vettori quickly explained that he had blocked the non-striker and Kiwis decided not to appeal for the wicket.

Another similar incident took place in Brisbane in 2012 when Ashwin dismissed Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Thirimanne before the play was dead. Sachin Tendulkar, realising this, went to standing captain Virender Sehwag and asked him to withdraw the appeal.

# 4 – Jonathan Trott takes his cap off to congratulate Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid had just been declared out for the last time in his One Day career at Cardiff, England. The English cut short their celebrations and rushed towards Dravid to congratulate him.

The Cardiff crowd were on their feet. Jonathan Trott then came and did something incredible. He came towards Dravid, took out his cap and shook Dravid’s hands. In a field of equals, you don’t take your cap off. Even though you might be a 17 year old youngster bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, you still consider Tendulkar to be your adversary. As Harsha Bhogle puts it – Jonathan Trott “elevated sport to another plane” by his gesture.

# 3 – The Guard of Honors

It is not a requirement or a tradition for players to give Guards of Honour in Cricket as it is in Football. But it is shown by the opponents to celebrate a player’s achievement or career.

The Indians gave a guard of honour to Muttiah Muralitharan on his last test match, the Australians gave Sanath Jayasuriya a guard of honor to mark his last game on Australian soil, the English gave Brian Lara a guard of honour when he scored 400 runs. Most recently, the South Africans welcomed Ricky Ponting on to the field with a guard of honour during his last match.

Cricket is a game and you play it to win, but the fact that this game commands this much of respect out of the players is what that makes Cricket gentlemanly.

# 2 – The Chennai Supporters, India vs Pakistan, 1999

We remember this as the Test where the Indian batting let Sachin Tendulkar down. What we don’t remember is what happened after the match.

Prior to the series, the tension between the two countries was at an all time high. Both countries had conducted Nuclear tests in 1998 and the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers into the Indian boundary was increasing.

In the match, India needed 271 runs to win. They were soon 81 for 5. Tendulkar steadied the Indian innings with a 138 run partnership with Nayan Mongia and then added 38 runs with Sunil Joshi, all under tremendous pain. After Tendulkar got out, the rest of the Indian line up couldn’t manage the remaining 17 runs as they lost 3 wickets for 4 runs. The Chennai crowd was left heartbroken.

But, the Chennai crowd didn’t boo the Indian players nor did it throw tantrums at the Pakistanis. The Chennai people waited for the Pakistanis to finish their celebrations and started applauding them. The Pakistanis realising this went on a lap of honour to appreciate what the people of Chennai had done.

Wasim Akram, years after the incident, commented that it was his favorite moment in India.

# 1 – Andrew Flintoff consoles Brett Lee instead of celebrating, Ashes 2005

Australia needed 279 to win. On the fourth day, England needed only 2 wickets and Australia needed more than 100 runs. But, Shane Warne and Brett Lee put forward a brave fight. Warne made 42 and was dismissed. Kasprowicz came into the crease. Both Lee and him dealt in singles.

Australia needed only four runs to register a memorable win. Brett Lee took a single and gave the strike to Kasprowicz. Under disputable circumstances, Kasprowicz was declared out to a bouncer by Andrew Fintoff. Nonetheless, England won one of the greatest test matches of our times and tied the Ashes 1 – 1.

What followed was even more special. Instead of celebrating a famous win, Flintoff went down and consoled Brett Lee who was on his feet, sobbing. The gesture is still considered as one of the greatest displays of mutual respect and sportsmanship in the entire sports fraternity.