Sportsmanship again to the fore as Black Caps make T20 World Cup final
Ian Anderson10:40, Nov 11 2021
Man of the match turns down an easy run at a vital stage of T20 World Cup semifinal.
Chalk up another meritorious moment for ‘the nice guys’ of world cricket.
As Daryl Mitchell was warming up
for his late assault on England’s bowling in the Twenty20 World Cup semifinal, the Black Caps batter refused to run a single when he felt he’d got in the way of Adil Rashid, who was trying to field off his own bowling.
Jimmy Neesham struck the first ball of the 18th over back down the off-side of the pitch to where Mitchell was at the non-striker’s end. Mitchell moved back towards his crease to avoid the chance of being run out and Rashid ran into him, with the ball going past both.
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DAVID GRAY/PHOTOSPORT
Daryl Mitchell shares a smile with team-mate Devon Conway during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and England in Abu Dhabi.
Neesham came down the wicket seeking the single, gesturing to his batting partner, but Mitchell let him know that he wasn’t interested.
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Mitchell, who made an unbeaten 72 off 47 balls to help push New Zealand into the final to be played on Monday morning (NZ time), said he didn’t want to create controversy by taking a run.
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“I felt I probably got in the way of Rashid a little bit.
“I didn’t want to be that guy that caused a bit of controversy. We all play the game in good spirit and I just felt like probably it was my fault.
“As opposed to taking the run, it was probably best to start again and carry on and lucky that it didn’t make a difference.”
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DAVID GRAY/PHOTOSPORT
Daryl Mitchell, centre, of New Zealand reacts with team-mate Mitchell Santner after hitting the winning runs as Chris Woakes of England watches.
It may have been a case of karma being replayed immediately, as Neesham – who wouldn’t have been on strike had the single been taken – hit the next ball for six as the Black Caps charged to victory late.
Under the initial leadership of first Brendon McCullum, and Kane Williamson since, the Black Caps have been widely regarded as a team which best upholds ‘the spirit of cricket’.
They were roundly praised for how they handled their 2019 one-day World Cup final misfortune in the loss to England on a boundary countback, when the hosts at Lord’s were the benefits in the final over of normal play of a flukey overthrow deflection which was incorrectly scored by the umpires.
This week, former international umpire Bruce Oxenford described the team as “amazing”.
“They could be world champions in all three formats had it not been for an incorrect call on an overthrow in the 50-over World Cup. And that day they just got on with it.
Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham guided the Black Caps to a memorable win over England in their T20 World Cup semifinal.
“They can get a 50-50 call against them and they say 'oh well, that is what happens.' If you get a call against them wrong very often they will come up to you and say ‘it wasn't right but I would have called it that way too’.
“It's incredible. It gives umpires confidence the way to umpires the way you think you should. They genuinely wish you well before and during the game. It is nice to be treated like an equal rather than an enemy on the field,” the Australian said.
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“I think it started when Brendon McCullum took over as captain. He took a lead off the All Blacks and giving respect to the opposition.
“Kane Williamson is a ripper. Martin Guptill is a cracker. Their fast bowlers – Trent Boult and Tim Southee are brilliant.”
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ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT
Martin Guptill is consoled by NZ team-mate Jimmy Neesham after the one-day World Cup final loss to England at Lord's in 2019.
Former NZ wicketkeeper/batter Ian Smith, who commentated on the 2019 World Cup final loss, wondered at the time of Mitchell’s moment of sportsmanship what would come from it.
“I thought, well, this could either go two ways. We could tie, we could lose by one and be regarded as the nice guys all over again, or Mitchell could win it. And he did – he won it.”
Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain, commentating on Sky Sport, felt the incident summed up how NZ play the game.
“That is so New Zealand, it really is. So easy to take a run there, and the non-striker said ‘no, I got in the way of Adil.
“If anything sums up New Zealand cricket, it was that.”
