Your team has mustered a measly 128/8 in 20 overs and you see your opponents two openers bring the scores level after just 7 overs. Chris Gayle has scored 22 off 14 balls and it's his opening partner, Evin Lewis, doing the damage with 97 smashed from 32 balls.
If Lewis had managed 3 runs or more from the first ball then he would have scored the second T20 hundred of all time behind only his batting partner, Gayle. So, you step up and bowl a wide no ball that concedes a run to St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and give them the win but you deny Lewis a chance of hitting a brutal century.
This is a hugely childish act from Pollard. Will he get a one match ban like Suraj Randiv did for doing the same to Sehwag? You'd hope Pollard would get the same treatment.
Kieran Pollard
posted on 5/9/17
I would do the same. Petty I know.
posted on 5/9/17
If I was a batsman and a bowler felt like he needed to intentionally bowl a no ball to stop me scoring, I would be flattered and pity the bowler.
posted on 5/9/17
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 20 minutes ago
I would do the same. Petty I know.
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I think others would too, my point is that it shouldn't have a place in the game. Have some respect for the game, the opponent, the fans etc.
posted on 5/9/17
Agree with OP on this one.. not within the spirit of the game. I don't think the batsman raised it as an issue and showed some dignity, unlike pollard. So fair play
posted on 5/9/17
Not in the "spirit of the game" at all.
Just like changing gloves a few times in a test match to waste time so the opposition won't win
posted on 5/9/17
As an aside, something else that apparently wasn't in the spirit of the game, the team that declared on 18-1:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/05/the-spin-carew-vilage-spirit-cricket
posted on 6/9/17
comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 16 hours, 41 minutes ago
As an aside, something else that apparently wasn't in the spirit of the game, the team that declared on 18-1:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/05/the-spin-carew-vilage-spirit-cricket
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That's an interesting one Blue. Risk losing the league and play in "the spirit of the game" or play to win what you set out to at the start of the season?
Now put that into a T20 county game where there is a financial reward for winning...lets just say....and with County clubs struggling financially..who could blame a club for doing something like this.
I'm torn on that particular one. With the influx of money coming into cricket due to 20\20 I can see financial rewards being more important that the "spirit of the game"
posted on 6/9/17
That's a crazy story, I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar in football. If say a team was 3 points behind and say 4 behind on goal difference (if the premier league uses 3-0 as the walkover score) with the league at stake then those kinds of antics may well happen.
The 'spirit of the game' rule obviously doesn't present clarity on such grey issues if no other laws are being broken. It's a shame they felt the need to go down a win at all costs route rather than keep some integrity in the game.
posted on 6/9/17
Fair point Candlestick. It happens in all sports, from Football to boxing, to name but a few.
How many boxers have you seen just run, slip run in the final round as they are up on points. Not really boxing, but fans seem to accept it now.
Football - putting out weak side for all types of reasons as the team were already through to the next round in a cup. I remember Beckham purposely getting booked in a world cup to clear his yellow card qouta.
With financial problems and money coming into the game money will take precedence over "integrity".
posted on 27/9/17
That story about the side declaring on 18/1 to make sure the opposition didn't get any bonus points has been reviewed by the governing body of the league. The team stay as champions, but they have been relegated for their actions!