Cricket: Black Caps top the world...for spirit

The Black Caps celebrate taking a Pakistan wicket last summer. Photo / Paul Taylor

They may have been upset by Bangladesh in their latest match and are currently languishing in eighth place in the ICC test rankings but the Black Caps lead the cricketing world in something...spirit.

New Zealand received the Spirit of Cricket Award at the International Cricket Council's (ICC) annual awards overnight, the second year in a row the team have taken out the prize.

The Black Caps beat out India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe who were also nominated.

New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan spoke with pride after hearing of the achievements saying: "The Black Caps richly deserved the Spirit of Cricket Award and to receive the accolade three times shows how highly our cricketers respect the game's traditional values.

"The Black Caps are excellent role models and great ambassadors for the game."

So what does the spirit award actually mean?

According to an ICC press release: "It is presented to the team which, in the opinion of the 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."

"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 Black Caps' season was not without incident last summer with Scott Styris fined 15 percent of his match fee following a minor 'headbutt' with Australia's Mitchell Johnson in a one-day international in Napier.

But that was relatively tame to the recent events in cricket that have tarnished the Pakistani side.

Upon receiving the news in Bangladesh, New Zealand skipper Daniel 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."

The spirit award wasn't the only accolade for New Zealand on the night which was headlined by India's record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar winnng the player of the year award.

Black Caps' wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum picked up an award for the best T20 performance based on his 116 not out in 56 balls against Australia in Christchurch.

Vettori was also named in the ODI team of the year.

- Herald online