Murali's run out, not done Kiwis

Richard Dwight

RUN OUT: There's no disputing of the fact that cricket is fast retrogressing to be no longer a gentleman's game. And unlike in those glorious years gone by, where the main thrust was the promotion of healthy exercise within a fair competitive environment, for the fostering of a spirit of camaraderie and the establishing of good relationships betwixt players and the countries involved.

It has however now become apparently clear, that the game presently isn't being played in the spirit and manner it was intended for the ethical and moral betterment of not only the players, but the followers of it as well.

For in today's highly professional and commercialised world of cricket, along with the advancement made in the form of sophisticated communication and travel - has led to money, the filthy lucre becoming the predominant force in the game.

Therefore for some players and teams, winning at all costs by hook or by crook does appear to matter most. So much so, the term 'Cricket' has lost its meaning and purpose, and the game itself perhaps needs to be renamed with something associated with the pursuit of material and financial gain.

Cricket derives its glory and intrinsic lustre, not only from the heroic deeds of a batsman or bowler and the team as a whole, but also from the display of time honoured sportsmanship, discipline and character - which does kindle spirits to stir emotions to give a sense of well-being all around, that makes cricket even more attractive with a special kind of beauty that is hard to express in words.

Sadly there are those who aren't sufficiently mature to see beyond, who say that the display of virtuous qualities on the field of play, is far too conservative, old fashioned, obsolete and out of date, which indeed is a pity.

This was amply made manifest when the New Zealand wicket keeper Brendon McCallum chose to run out Sri Lanka's last man, Muralitharan, in the second innings with a little over two days of play left for the Kiwis to get 119 runs for victory at Christchurch.

The nature and manner in which McCallum, though well within his rights and rules of the game, ran out Murali - was we learn most degrading, ugly to atrociously be a bad piece of sordid cricket. Murali had done well in stout heartedly partnering the valiant Sangakkara, who as a lone warrior, battled on to complete a century with Murali's assistance to make that all important single.

No sooner the single was registered, Murali overcome by spontaneous joy, lost himself to walk out to congratulate Sanga. But it turned out to be his undoing, a surprised swift mood change, when the cruel McCallum lacking the wider perspective and the broader vision of cricket, whipped off the bails to run Murali out.

It was the most unkindest cut of all dealt by McCallum to the affable, friendly Murali, who always sports a smiling grin and, certainly didn't deserve to be out in this shameful way. Surely a wicket must be well earned, with a measure of effort.

Apart from the many who have been critical of the incident, it has as also ruffled quite a few Kiwi feathers in Kiwiland too. In the light of this unfortunate incident brought about by McCallum, the Kiwi Victory has considerably paled to be hollow.

Had he completely overlooked Murali's innocent ecstatic lapse in the true spirit and traditions of cricket and, yet gone onto win - then Kiwi cricket would have soared to great heights, but now it has nose dived from the sublime to the ridiculous.

It may be appropriate to remind the Kiwi cricketers of the great Abraham Lincon's letter to his son's Headmaster, where amongst other things he states, "Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning...Teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat....Teach him also that for every scoundrel, there is a hero."