The coaching manual does not cover certain elements of cricket. Although they can be instructed and reminded, having them displayed in a professional setting is uncommon. Sportsmanship is one of these elements in the game of cricket. On that note, here are the three best cricketing moments of sportsmanship.
3. Virat Kohli vs Australia, 2019 World Cup
Virat Kohli’s plea to a portion of the Indian crowd booing Australian Steven Smith caught everyone’s attention. Smith was playing cricket at the highest level after more than a year due to a horrifying ball-tampering ban. At the Oval, during an India vs Australia World Cup 2019 match, Kohli heard anti-Smith chants from a part of the audience. As the over was over, Kohli motioned for the audience to clap and not criticise the player for errors he committed in the past. The Apex Cricket body recognised Kohli’s sincere efforts by awarding the Indian captain the “Spirit of Cricket” trophy.
2. Adam Gilchrist vs Sri Lanka, 2003 World Cup
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist bats aggressively yet exudes composure on and off the field. An incident altered Gilchrist’s reputation in cricket during the 2003 World Cup semifinal. Gilchrist attempted to sweep a full delivery off Aravinda de Silva, but he ultimately edged to give Sri Lanka keeper Kumar Sangakkara an easy catch. To their surprise, Umpire Rudi Koertzen ruled against their appeal. Gilchrist, however, took an uncommon yet honest position as the Sri Lankan players bemoaned the umpire’s error. Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter began to move toward the pavilion despite the umpire’s not-out call. Later, he received praise for acting with class on one of the biggest stages in international cricket.
1. Andrew Flintoff, Ashes 2005
The 2005 Ashes was one of the most evenly matched Test series ever played. Despite the violent battles taking place on the field, a few specific incidents caught everyone’s attention. The gesture made by England’s top all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to a miffed Brett Lee was one such instance. At Edgbaston, England overcame Australia by a razor-thin margin of just two runs in the second Test match. Flintoff approached Lee and consoled him as the home team began to celebrate. Even yet, he praised him for having the perseverance that almost helped the Australians cross the finish line.