India may have lost the second Test at Trent Bridge against England, but it won the hearts of those who regard the game as greater than records. By withdrawing his appeal for the bizarre run-out of England batsman Ian Bell, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has restored the spirit of sportsmanship missing in these days of fierce competition.

The incident overshadowed almost everythingelse including Bell's 15th Test century and England's huge victory by more than 300 runs. If India had insisted on its appeal, it could have meant defeat without grace for India.

Sadly such gestures are rare today. The once “gentlemen's game” has come a long way since the first Test match played in March 1877 between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which the Australians won by 45 runs. Fierce professionalism came into play during 1980s.

Great gestures

Sports writers and fans rightly recall captain Gundappa Viswanth's gesture in the ‘Jubilee Test at Mumbai in 1980. Bob Taylor was adjudged caught behind off Kapil Dev in a doubtful decision. Viswanath asked a visibly dissatisfied Taylor, who began walking back to the pavilion, whether he had nicked the ball and the English batsman replied in the negative. Viswanath called him back.

Another incident was Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout's incredible act of sportsmanship during the fifth Test of the 1964 Ashes Series at the Oval. England batsman Ken Barrington, seeking to take a quick single, collided with fast bowler Neil Hawke and fell to the ground . The ball was swiftly sent into the safe gloves of Grout. But the great wicket keeper, “swept his hands across and above the stumps, thereby ensuring the bails remained in place and that Barrington could reach the crease".

Indeed, cricket needs more Grouts, Viswanaths and Dhonis to restore the game to its former glory.

(The author is a Delhi-based freelance journalist)

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