New Zealand wins Spirit of Cricket Award
The New Zealand cricket team was named as the recipients of the Spirit of Cricket Award at the LG ICC Awards celebration in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
In total, this is the third time New Zealand has won this award and the second year in a row. It is presented to the team which, in the opinion of the Emirates Elite Panels of ICC Umpires and Match Referees and the 10 Full Member captains, has best conducted itself on the field within the spirit of the game.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was unable to collect the award on the night due to playing commitments in Bangladesh.
Upon receiving the news in Bangladesh, Vettori said on behalf of his team: ?It?s great to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket award for the third time and I am proud to lead a team that has been deemed once again to be the side that has most adhered to the spirit of cricket.
?The team I have led over the past year has without a doubt shown great sportsmanship and played the game of cricket in the right way by always respecting our opponents and those who officiate and look after us in the sport.
?I would be thrilled if to go alongside our award and Brendon McCullum?s that we win the series that we are playing here in Bangladesh.?
This spirit is described in the preamble to the laws of cricket: ?Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its laws but also within the spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself.?
The award has previously been won twice by Sri Lanka (2007 and 2008), England won it in 2005 and 2006 while New Zealand took the honour at the inaugural ICC Awards in 2004 and again last year in Johannesburg.
New Zealand was one of several teams that demonstrated the spirit of cricket to great effect over the past 12 months and it defeated India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to win this award.
The Spirit of Cricket Award was one of 12 individual and team honours handed out during the LG ICC Awards in association with FICA. The event, held at The Grand Castle, Bengaluru recognises cricket?s star performers over a 12-month period.
