Top 10 Instances When Players Showed Great Sportsmanship

The game of cricket is often known as gentleman’s game. We have seen on many occasions when the players have played with the right spirit. The world-class players have gone to show great maturity and whenever the spirit of the game is held upright, it is a moment to hold on to. In fact, it is a famous saying that the game should be played but fair by the players.

Furthermore, playing the game in the right spirit sends the right message to the future generation. Thus, it is crucial for all the players to play the same with the right attitude.

We take a look at ten instances when players showed great sportsmanship.

10. Andrew Flintoff Consoling Brett Lee in the 2005 Ashes.

England and Australia have shared a great rivalry with each other since the inception of the game. The players refuse to give off an inch and the Ashes has always been a prominent series between the two sides. England’s talisman Andrew Flintoff had put his hand on the back of Brett Lee after the English team defeated Australia by two runs in the second Test match of the 2005 Ashes series.

Flintoff was awarded the Man of the match in the same as he scored half-centuries in both the innings and scalped seven wickets in the match.

9. Grant Elliott Helped Dale Steyn Get Up After 2015 Semi-final.

South Africa has always had a history of not going over the line in the World Cup semi-finals. On the other hand, New Zealand has always played the same with the right spirit. New Zealand’s middle order batsman showed a great heart when he gave his hand to Dale Steyn after the fast bowler was dejected after conceding the six.

Elliott had scored a fine knock of 84 runs and he was awarded the man of the match for his performance. On the other hand, Dale Steyn proved to be costly as he conceded 76 runs in 8.5 overs.

8. Adam Gilchrist Walking Off in the World Cup semifinal vs Sri Lanka in 2003.

It is well said that Honesty is the best policy and Adam Gilchrist was the epitome of the same. In fact, we don’t see a lot of players walking off when they know that they are out. Furthermore, walking off in a match is a different thing but walking off in the World Cup semi-final is a massive thing.

Adam Gilchrist always played the game in the right spirit and he said after the match that he thought he didn’t have the right to stand there. Meanwhile, Australia went on to win the contest and also defeated India in the final by a gargantuan margin.

7. MS Dhoni Calling Back Ian Bell.

India’s former skipper MS Dhoni is well known for his cool and composed nature. Dhoni always takes his decision after a good thought and he is generally right on the money with his decision. England batsman Ian Bell was run-out at the stroke of tea when the right-hander thought that the ball has touched the boundary. However, Praveen Kumar had saved the boundary and Bell was run-out

But Dhoni decided to call back Ian Bell and the stylish batsman resumed his innings after the Tea break.

6. MS Dhoni Helped Faf du Plessis battle Cramps in 2015.

Dhoni was once again in action when he helped South African batsman Faf du Plessis battle cramps in 2015 during an ODI match. In fact, MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis share a great bonhomie as both of them play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and the same was palpable during the Mumbai ODI in 2015. Dhoni attended Faf du Plessis and helped him stretch his legs before the South African physio took over the job.

5. Pakistan and New Zealand team mourned after the death of Phil Hughes.

Australian cricket suffered a huge blow when their southpaw batsman Phil Hughes died after suffering a blow to head in the Sheffield Shield by Sean Abbott. Hughes had gone into a coma after he had taken a blow to his head. The left-hander was batting on 63 but could not recover from the blow. Subsequently, Pakistan and New Zealand absorbed a minute silence for the death of Philip Hughes.

4. South African Players Gave Farewell to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene After Quarterfinal of 2015 World Cup.

The Proteas players had given a befitting farewell to two Sri Lankan legends – Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene after winning the quarterfinal contest of the 2015 World Cup. South Africa won the match comfortably by nine wickets but gave their respect to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Kumar Sangakkara scored 45 runs whereas Mahela Jayawardene scored four runs in their final ODI innings for Sri Lanka.

3. Ajinkya Rahane Invited Afghanistan for a Group Photograph After Completion of Historic Test.

Ajinkya Rahane is well known for playing the game in the right spirit. Rahane was named as the captain when Virat Kohli was ruled with an injury in Afghanistan’s first ever Test match. India proved to be too strong for Afghanistan as they comfortably won the match. Subsequently, Rahane went on to win hearts when he invited Afghanistan’s players for the group photograph along with the trophy. It was a sweet gesture from Rahane for the Afghanistan team.

2. Indian team giving the guard of honour to Alastair Cook.

The Indian team under the captaincy of Virat Kohli showed great spirit when they gave a guard of honour to England’s veteran batsman Alastair Cook. The southpaw batsman scored a fine knock of 147 runs in his final innings in the red ball version.

Thus, England was able to win comprehensively by 118 runs. Cook wasn’t in the best of forms and hence, he decided to hang his boots. The left-hander was then given the Knighthood and he is now known as Sir Alastair Cook.

1. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor Console Carlos Brathwaite in 2019 World Cup match.

Kane Willamson and his team have always set a great example. Carlos Brathwaite was on fire when he played a blistering knock of 101 runs against New Zealand. However, the combative right-hander could get his team over the line when he could not clear Trent Boult at long-on. Subsequently, the New Zealand players went on to put their hands on the shoulders to Brathwaite after he was dejected.