6 Most selfless acts in cricket

Cricket is known to be a gentleman’s game since it’s inception. Irrespective of the result, the players of the two teams involved in the game are seen shaking each other’s hand appreciating their effort. Even in this age of downfall where many critics have questioned if cricket still remains to be a gentleman’s game, the game has been enlightened with quite a few selfless acts from cricketers in the interest of their respective teams, teammates and the spirit of the game. Here is a look at some of these self-sacrificing acts in last 40 years where the essence of cricket was kept alive on the cricket field: 1. Sir Richard Hadlee denying himself a 10-wicket haul: Richard Hadlee. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto/Getty Images) New Zealand were playing Australia in 1985, the conditions were a little overcast in Brisbane and Sir Richard Hadlee made sure that people will remember him whenever this Test match is discussed; not only for his stupendous bowling but also for sacrificing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of achieving a milestone. He had taken all the first 8 wickets to fall in the Australian innings and was on the verge of being only the second bowler after Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in an innings before the catch for the 9th wicket came to him. It was eminently droppable as the ball travelled a few miles up in the air and Hadlee had to run backwards giving him enough time to think about the great milestone that lies ahead given the quality of the upcoming batsmen (combined batting average of 10) but ignoring all the perplexions, he selflessly took the catch. He later took the 10th wicket and ended with 9 wickets in the innings and a much deserved standing ovation. He produced 6 more wickets in the second innings and ended with a 15-wicket haul in the match as New Zealand defeated Australia by an innings. Sports journalist Frank Keating described the catch as “Catch of the century, not because of the difficulty level but because of the selflessness Hadlee showed.” The famous catch was more special for the bowler as it aided Vaughan Brown to take the only wicket of his Test career. Also check out – 11 moments in cricket which made the fans cry in pics 2. Rahul Dravid’s retirement: Rahul Dravid. (© WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) Rahul Dravid’s career is an epitome of fighting spirit and a number of selfless acts. Be it sacrificing the batting position he was comfortable at to open the innings and keeping the wickets when the Indian team needed him to, did it all. But his biggest act of selflessness came in the declaration of his retirement. The Indian team has had disastrous tours of England and Australia and fans were criticizing the appalling performances of Indian batsmen who were already moving towards the end of their careers. Among them, Rahul Dravid, despite being one of the better Indian batsmen in the last few months was the first one to announce his retirement. It was not just a retirement, he planned the future of Indian batting with his retirement. Keeping in mind that India’s next few Test series were going to be on home soil, Dravid did not waste any time to open a spot for a youngster to gain experience on the home soil before moving on to tough tours of Australia, England and New Zealand. He did not even care for a farewell match as he thought that holding a youngster’s spot just for a farewell match would be injustice to him. At the end of his career, even his retirement came for the sake of the team. Also check out – 9 Most emotional speeches in cricket history 3. Michael Hussey did not care about hitting the winning runs in his final Test: Australia’s Mike Hussey. (Photo by GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images) Michael Hussey announced an unexpected retirement from international cricket before the Sydney Test against Sri Lanka in 2013. Though he was an opener in T20s, he had the reputation of being an excellent finisher and it was only fitting that he finished his career steering Australia to another Test victory with a decent innings of 27* When Australia were just 1 away from the victory and Mitchell Johnson was on strike, everybody wanted Hussey to score the winning run who was on the other end. The over still had 3 balls left. Johnson blocked the 4th ball. He also blocked the 5th ball but somehow that ball went into the gap and Johnson didn’t want to run for Hussey but when he looked up at him, Hussey had already started running forcing Johnson into the run without caring about hitting the winning runs himself. In the end, Mike Hussey didn’t want to steal the limelight by delaying the victory for his cause. He put the team ahead of himself even in his final match. For him, what mattered was the win, at the end of which he finished a glorious career being carried around the ground by his Aussie teammates on their shoulder. Also read – 7 Fastest Batsmen to reach 25 Test Hundreds 4. Javagal Srinath: India’s Anil Kumble (R) Javagal Srinath. (Photo by -/AFP/Getty Images) If Sir Richard Hadlee’s act prevented him from a ‘Perfect Ten’, and this act of Javagal Srinath helped his teammate, Anil Kumble a great deal to achieve the milestone. It was Srinath who was bowling from the other end when Kumble had 9 out of 9 wickets to his name in Pakistan’s second innings of the Delhi Test. To help Kumble stay in the hunt for the 10th wicket, Srinath started bowling wide outside the off stump to take out any possibility of taking a wicket so Kumble could have his man. Srinath said: “Nobody had to come and tell me to not take that remaining wicket. Anil was on the verge of a record and it was a unanimous decision.” Srinath bowled the defensive line for two to three overs before Anil Kumble dismissed Wasim Akram and became only the second bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings. Also Watch: Javagal Srinath killer display of late swing 5. AB de Villiers sacrificed his wicket for Jacques Kallis in his final Test innings: Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers. (Photo by MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images) The final Test of the India-South Africa series in 2013 was a much awaited one. Firstly, it was the series decider after a cliffhanger of a first Test where South Africa almost chased down a record total and secondly it was going to be the last Test of the greatest all-rounder of the modern era – Jacques Henry Kallis. With the intent Kallis was batting, it was clear that he wanted to end on a high by playing another one of his special knocks before bidding a final adieu to the game. He was extremely cautious and batted in his bubble respecting the good deliveries and patiently waiting to score off the bad ones. The only occasion where he seemed vulnerable was when he came running down to AB de Villiers at the striker’s end misjudging a run. De Villiers was safe at his end but looking at Kallis in danger, he ran putting his own wicket under scrutiny to prevent Kallis from getting run out in his final Test innings. His act of putting his wicket in danger paid off as first, AB de Villiers survived the close run-out call and later, Jacques Kallis ended up scoring a match winning century in his final Test innings and also inched past Rahul Dravid as the 3rd highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket. Also Watch: Why even after the tiffs cricket is a gentleman’s game 6. Adam Gilchrist walking back in the World Cup semi-final: Australia’s Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media via Getty Images) Most of the incidents listed here were for the team but this is probably one of the greatest moments of selflessness which was for the sake of the spirit of the game. It was a World Cup semi-final – without a doubt, one of the biggest matches for any cricketer. Batting first, Australia were 34/0 at the end of the 5th over when Aravinda de Silva was brought into the attack. Gilchrist tried to sweep his second delivery, but only managed a thin edge which the umpire Rudi Koertzen failed to notice. He gave the batsman a reprieve as the Sri Lankans stood in disbelief. Gilly stood, waited for the decision and then silently walked back to the dressing room despite being given not out as the celebrations of the Sri Lankan players came back to life. It was one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship, partly because he belonged to a country where players are taught to win at any cost and partly because it was a World Cup semi-final and an astonishing act of self-sacrifice as Gilchrist was en route of a big innings in the semi-final – a match in which every cricketer desires to put up a strong performance. Also read – 13 Spirit of Cricket moments that won the hearts of the fans Written by Shubh Aggarwal

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6 Most selfless acts in cricket

Most of the incidents listed here were for the team.

4. Javagal Srinath:

Also Watch: Javagal Srinath killer display of late swing

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