m@tt wrote:Arthur Crabtree wrote:Thanks Matt.
Something that shouldn't be forgotten from the game is the sportsmanship and goodwill that the Kiwis brought to the match. A lot of the cricket I've seen in recent times has been hard to take. I'd like to think the Kiwis are a model for other teams to follow. The NZ captain was very impressive after the game.
McCullum speaks very well. Doesn't look it, what with the muscles and tattoos he isn't your typical cricket captain, but is certainly someone to listen to.
And nice to see them shaking Stokes' hand after he reached three figures. Would like to see more of it across the game in general. Not to see we don't see displays of respect in the game, but when you support an England side that has become a bit too insular and grumpy over the past few years, it would be nice to see more of it. It's just little things, like Trott removing his cap when he shook Dravid's hand at the end of his final innings here.
Great post and nice to read that point about Trott.
The Kiwis came to the game without the anger that I'm used to seeing. In turn, it probably meant England changed a little too. But NZ led this.
Brendan said that NZ had a fresh start around how NZ were perceived by the public, and they accepted that they weren't liked. I've never seen NZ as bad guys, but they were a model here.
After Sydney, Cook talked about philosophy and ethics, and my ears tuned in because I like that kind of stuff. A few months later, he was defending Anderson at Trent Bridge and manhandling the Sri lankans. my impression is he meant ethics and philosophy in a corporate way, which means image. England's behaviour got worse.
But the Kiwis have led the way. My impression is that other pressures will mean England will revert to type in time. But they have had a glimpse of a more wholesome ethics and philosophy, for its own sake, in this game.
I always say that everybody's right.