Cricket has always been known as the Gentleman’s game. The game has always been played, to most extents, in the most sportsmanly way possible. There are a lot of players whose careers serve as a tribute to this spirit. Here is a look at 10 of the best sportsmanly gestures on the cricket field:
1. MS Dhoni recalls Ian Bell (2011)
In the second test of the series, in a very weird incident, Ian Bell was ruled run out after he had begun to walk back to the pavilion for tea, presuming that the ball had crossed the boundary, when in fact Praveen Kumar had stopped it and thrown it back to Mukund who took off the bails and appealed. The captain and coach of the English team explained the situation to the Indian camp, and MS Dhoni agreed to recall Ian Bell.
2. Sachin’s and Sehwag’s intervention
In 2012, during the Common Wealth tri series in Australia, during an India Sri Lanka game, Ravi Ashwin ‘Mankaded’ the non-striker, Thirimanne. As the appeal went to the Third Umpire, the rules clearly stated that the batsman could be given out, but the deputy skipper Sehwag, after speaking to Tendulkar, withdrew the appeal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsZTPrU4JjY
3. Daniel Vettori (2012)
In a hotly contested New Zealand Zimbabwe game, during Vettori’s over, the Zimbabweans tried to take a single, and Vettori’s follow up stride came in the way of the striker, and by then the non-striker was too far down the pitch to adjust. The keeper took the bails off, and he was declared out. Daniel Vettori immediately withdrew the appeal, and the batsman was asked to return.
4. India vs West Indies (2011)
During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India faced off against West Indies in Chennai. The opening partnership of Sachin and Sehwag had been touted for great things, but there was an early surprise, as Sachin seemed to have nicked one to the keeper off his glove. Appeals went up, but the umpire looked a little confused and didn’t make a decision, but Sachin, being the true professional that he is, walked, even though it was a World cup game.
5. New Zealand vs South Africa (2015)
This hotly contested game was the semi final of the World Cup in 2015. Grant Elliott came on for New Zealand and played a blinder to take them home, leaving the South African players distraught. The image of Grant Elliott picking up a grieving Dale Steyn was an emotional one for us all.
6. Courtney Walsh’s graciousness
In the 1987 World Cup, held in Pakistan, the legendary Windies were playing the host nation. With Pakistan needing 2 to win off the last ball, Walsh ran up to bowl, and before delivering the ball, had the chance to ‘Mankad’ the non-striker, but instead just stopped and walked back. The 2 runs were eventually scored off the last ball by Pakistan.
7. Sri Lanka vs Australia (2004)
At Dambulla, Australia needed 56 off a run a ball, with 6 wickets left. Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist were steering the ship home when disaster struck. Symonds clearly nicked a ball on to the pads, and the appeal went up and so did the finger. Symonds started to walk, and when the umpires consulted and then asked Marvan Attapattu if they could recall him, which was solely upto the Captain’s discretion, he agreed immediately. A great day for cricket all round.
8. GL vs SRH, IPL (2017)
During a match between the Gujarat Lions and the Sun Risers Hyderabad, while bowling, Basil Thampi lost a shoe while trying to stop a ball, and David Warner, on the return run, paused, picked up Thampi’s shoe mid-run, handed him the shoe and then COMPLETED THE RUN COMFORTABLY. That’s pretty awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEQV8dGPgBQ
9. India vs Pakistan (1989)
India and Pakistan is a fiery enough rivalry without the added spice. During one such tight game in Lahore, Chris Srikkanth was very clearly wrongly adjudged LBW, and while he began his dejected walk back to the pavilion, Imran Khan ran up to him and asked him to come back, as he had realised that it wasn’t out too.
10. India vs South Africa (2015)
In the series decider at the Wankhedez Dhoni decided to bowl first and the decision back-fired magnificently as the Proteas went on to post a 400+ total, with 3 of their batsmen scoring centuries. As Faf du Plessis was not out on 100, he swept Axar Patel for a six, and fell down with bad cramps immediately. The first person to help him, even before the physios was MS Dhoni, who asked him to lie down and stretched his legs for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EstUOY2WntE
By Aravind Harish
