What is the 'spirit of the game'?

Players often appeal even when they know that the batsman in not out. The question of playing within the spirit of the game is repeatedly used by captains, but how often do they comply with the spirit with their own actions? Harsha Bhogle, in ExpressIndia, says there is hardly a cricketer who hasn't bent the rules a bit during his career.

You cannot go down the other path and take a fielder's word either. I'm afraid in sport, nobody's word counts for much. Some cheat less than others but nobody passes the acid test: appealing when they know the batsman is not out. And that is why, while batsman are entitled to feel disappointed when a decision goes against them, we need to ask if they ever did an opposition batsman in by misleading an umpire.