The real issue of fair play in cricket, and why it is a virtue Britain as a whole, and Hong Kong, needs more of
- The British pride themselves on their sense of fair play, especially in sport, and cricket above all, as a recent incident in an England-Australia match showed
- A recent report, though, highlighted much in English cricket that doesn’t exemplify fair play – a reminder that it embodies virtues everyone should aspire to
A strong sense of fair play has long been claimed to be a British characteristic, mostly by we British. It often arises in the field of sport. And no sport takes it more seriously than cricket.
A storm raged recently over allegations that the Australian team had breached “the spirit of the game” in a crunch match against England. It almost became an international incident.
The Australians secured the dismissal of an English batsman by taking advantage of his mistaken belief that play had stopped. They acted within the laws of the game. But the “stumping”, which helped the Aussies win the match, was seen by the English as unsporting.
There were unprecedented scenes at London’s usually sedate Lord’s Cricket Ground. The crowd booed the Australian team and chanted “cheats”. Some players were confronted in the famous Long Room as they left the pitch. Three members of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) were suspended.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused the Australians of breaching the “spirit of the game”. His Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, hit back, defending his team.
There has been much debate about precisely what “the spirit of the game” is and who was more unsporting – the Australian players or British fans.
The affair comes as British cricket faces a crisis, with a damning report branding the sport racist, sexist and classist. There is much work to be done.
Women (with the exception of the queen) were not allowed into the Long Room until 1999. Viewers around the world will have seen the pavilion packed with members of the MCC, overwhelmingly white, male and middle-aged. They are easy to spot in their loud striped jackets and ties.
Much as I love tradition, a change is long overdue. There is a need for more women, members of ethnic minorities and young people to feature in this high-profile image of the sport. It is at odds with Britain’s diverse society and points to broader problems.
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I was amazed to find that the dress code for the members’ stands at Lord’s has barely changed in 28 years. T-shirts and jeans are now allowed. But trousers must be tailored. Brightly coloured trainers are not permitted. Try explaining that to my sons, in their early 20s.
Cricket epitomises British notions of fair play. But no nation has a monopoly on the value, associated with respect, inclusivity and equal opportunity.
We need more of these virtues everywhere, including in Britain and Hong Kong. Falling short is, as the English like to say, just not cricket.
