Thank you for a lovely article - well written and insightful. Is this not what sport is all about? It is also sad that South African cricket is losing wonderful people to other nations and not trying to keep them here. I am also reminded of a comment I heard yesterday at the F1 qualifying from Fernando Alonso after his qualifying lap - "I don't care where I came, I just loved that lap". Sometime we are too obsessed with results and forget about the joy of participating, especially in the great game of cricket.
I love the Alonso comment, Daniel. Yoou are so right - there's nothing wrong with playing to win, but not at all costs. We sometimes forget, as players and spectators, about the joy of competition and the joy of the journey!
Thank you, Neil for such a lovely article. So nice to read something uplifting in the current global context and local cricket context. I've always enjoyed the Black Caps for their gentlemanly behaviour. As for the word "arseholery", I couldn't think of a better description of their Aussie counterparts. Cheers (it is Sat afternoon, after all!)
Cheers to you, too, Dave! Although doing so with an appropriate beverage has become a little trickier these days. Occasionally these words just crop up. I can't be sure I didn't hear it first from from the NZ players, to be fair ... :)
Thank you for reading, Sean. We don't get to see much 'behind the curtain' these days, less and less, in fact. It was extremely unusual to be invited that far backstage! I was very fortunate...
What a special, uplifting article! I was very happy that the Kiwis won the World Cup. I mostly don't care who wins a cricket match. When I am able to watch, I appreciate the skill, the artistry and above all the spirit in which the game is played. I follow careers as if I were the proud father of those achievers. My schoolboy son competed against AB, FAF, Jacques Rudolf, Kruger van Wyk - their careers have been a joy to follow. He was probably a year or three ahead of Neil Wagner who has absorbed the Kiwi fair play spirit. Cricket generally produces nice guys.
Good to hear from you, Neville. It is so important to appreciate cricket for cricket's sake, the effort which so many people put into playing it - at amateur and professional level - and the enjoyment it provides for so many. Wagner's story is an inspirational one and, I must say, I was as pleased as I've been for a cricketer when Kruger van Wyk's dream of international cricket was realised in NZ. And against South Africa, nogal!
Thank you for a lovely article - well written and insightful. Is this not what sport is all about? It is also sad that South African cricket is losing wonderful people to other nations and not trying to keep them here. I am also reminded of a comment I heard yesterday at the F1 qualifying from Fernando Alonso after his qualifying lap - "I don't care where I came, I just loved that lap". Sometime we are too obsessed with results and forget about the joy of participating, especially in the great game of cricket.
I love the Alonso comment, Daniel. Yoou are so right - there's nothing wrong with playing to win, but not at all costs. We sometimes forget, as players and spectators, about the joy of competition and the joy of the journey!
Thank you, Neil for such a lovely article. So nice to read something uplifting in the current global context and local cricket context. I've always enjoyed the Black Caps for their gentlemanly behaviour. As for the word "arseholery", I couldn't think of a better description of their Aussie counterparts. Cheers (it is Sat afternoon, after all!)
Cheers to you, too, Dave! Although doing so with an appropriate beverage has become a little trickier these days. Occasionally these words just crop up. I can't be sure I didn't hear it first from from the NZ players, to be fair ... :)
Love this article Manners! Great topic, beautifully covered. So resonate with the value of being good bloke above assholery!
Thanks for a lovely piece. Great to get a peek behind the curtain and see how they do it
Thank you for reading, Sean. We don't get to see much 'behind the curtain' these days, less and less, in fact. It was extremely unusual to be invited that far backstage! I was very fortunate...
Congratulations to New Zealand on becoming world test champions!
Brilliant!!
Thank you, Arnaud. It was a brilliant story - nothing to do with me!
Love the article
What a special, uplifting article! I was very happy that the Kiwis won the World Cup. I mostly don't care who wins a cricket match. When I am able to watch, I appreciate the skill, the artistry and above all the spirit in which the game is played. I follow careers as if I were the proud father of those achievers. My schoolboy son competed against AB, FAF, Jacques Rudolf, Kruger van Wyk - their careers have been a joy to follow. He was probably a year or three ahead of Neil Wagner who has absorbed the Kiwi fair play spirit. Cricket generally produces nice guys.
Good to hear from you, Neville. It is so important to appreciate cricket for cricket's sake, the effort which so many people put into playing it - at amateur and professional level - and the enjoyment it provides for so many. Wagner's story is an inspirational one and, I must say, I was as pleased as I've been for a cricketer when Kruger van Wyk's dream of international cricket was realised in NZ. And against South Africa, nogal!