Taylor, Mulder show why cricket is called the game of gentlemen

Cricket is perhaps rightly called the game of gentlemen. Despite being the most complicated and technical sport, it has not only weathered the test of time but also captivated the fans across the globe.

When two teams play in a Test match in white kits – with eleven fielders scattered all over the ground – the view is simply spectacular, especially in a place like England.

England is renowned for its marvellous stadiums with breathtaking views in the backdrop. The overcast condition and blowing wind adds to its charm. The spectators are usually seen wearing a tie and hat, which is seldom accompanied by a stick, giving them a look of an English gentleman.

These gentlemen are often seen in the company of their bella donnas. The fans acknowledge a good shot or a dismissal by gently clapping, irrespective of the team they are rooting for. They never forget to give a standing ovation to a batter who plays a good knock or a bowler who picks up the most wickets without any bias.

But, it is always the players who steal the show when it comes to the discipline, behaviour and respect for the peers and the past greats.

Mark Taylor

Cricket history is replete with such examples when the opposition captain called back a batsman after he was declared out by the umpire to show sportsmanship.

Many instances are found in the history of the game, when bowlers have come to the rescue of batsmen after having hit them with an unintentional bouncer or a beamer. The Incidents became the folklore of cricket fraternity for a kind gesture or apologetic behaviour of a certain player.

But, two instances which stand out among all the kind and good gestures shown by the cricketers till date and will remain etched in the memories of the fans, came from two players from completely different eras, different countries and different backgrounds.

Australia’s former captain Mark Taylor and South Africa’s stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder both declared their innings out of respect for the past greats. Taylor, when batting on 334 against Pakistan in Peshawar, declared his innings due to respect for the Australian great Don Bradman, the greatest batsman ever to have graced the game of cricket with an average of 99.96 in Tests.

He declared his innings as he did not want to go past Bradman. He could have gone on to play and may have become the first person to reach the magical figure of 400, which was breached many years later by the West Indian great Brian Lara.

But, he chose to remain on the same score as that of Bradman. After the match, Taylor said that he did not want to go beyond Australia’s greatest batsman.

In an interview with cricket cricket.com.au, years later, Taylor revealed his decision.

“I spent hours that night contemplating what to do. I finally got to sleep at about 2 o’clock in the morning. I was thinking about what to do so I certainly didn’t crash as well as I’d hoped.I think ideally I would have batted on for 20 minutes just to put their openers out in the field for 20 more minutes before we declared,” Taylor was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

“But, I thought if I did that I would then end up on 340 not out or something like that and I think people would have assumed that I’d batted on just for my own glory.

“I didn’t want to send that message either so the more I thought about it, I came to the decision that the best thing I can do is declare (and) end up on the same score as Sir Donald, which I’m more than delighted with,” he added. Memories of Taylor’s gesture of paying a tribute to a legend were revived when South Africa’s Mulder declared his innings while batting on 367 not out against Zimbabwe.

Mulder had a chance to get his name etched in the pinnacle of the sport by breaking the record of Lara. He was just 33 runs short of Lara’s 400-run mark. But instead of trying to break the record of Lara, he preferred to declare the innings as a befitting tribute to the great batsman.

After the match, Mulder said in the-match conference, “Brian Lara is a legend. He got 401 or whatever it was (it was 400) against England. For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special.”