Defending the spirit of cricket

Former Wisden editor John Woodcock defends the notion of the Spirit of Cricket, which has come in for much derision in recent times. He insists that Paul Collingwood shouldn't have been given out when he caught short by Brendon McCullum in the Champions Trophy league game as the batsman had never intended to take a run (Collingwood was subsequently recalled by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori). Read on in the Times.

I had a small part in framing the preamble to the present Laws of Cricket, described by Atherton as a lot of well-meaning guff. There was more of it in its original form, but it was still intended to send the same message. Mike may well be right, and perhaps it does need rewriting. On reading it again I think he is right and that he might like to have a shot at it himself.

But I am sure it is as well to have something of the sort, even if we all know really what is meant by the spirit of the game. Even now, is chivalry not the word that says it all?