KEY POINTS:
Former Black Caps batsman Mark Richardson said New Zealand should forget about yesterday's controversial fourth one-day international against England and focus on securing the series on Saturday.
The Black Caps hold a 2-1 series lead going into the final match at Lord's after their one-wicket win in London yesterday, which was marred by the run out of New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott after he collided with England's Ryan Sidebottom.
Mark Richardson said he thought the decision was outside the spirit of the game, but the Blacks Caps aren't exactly model students.
"New Zealand is not entirely innocent and they would be wrong to wage a hate campaign," he said.
"There have been violations of the code of cricket through-out the ages.
"Cricket is more visual now with all the media coverage and as a consequence it is played with more balance and fairness at the top level."
Richardson was referring to an incident in 2006 when, in a test match against Sri Lanka, Brendon McCullum ran out Muttiah Muralitharan while he was walking down the pitch to celebrate Kumar Sangakkara scoring a century.
The former opener said he thought the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referees should be more active in monitoring the game.
"Regardless of what has happened, both sides will be looking for a win the in the final game and will be playing just as competitively," he said.
Meanwhile, fellow former international John Morrison called England captain Paul Collingwood's decision not call back Elliott "slippery" and said Collingwood is lucky New Zealand won the match otherwise he would have been in more difficulty.
"Collingwood is party to an international agreement to uphold the spirit of cricket," Morrison said.
"He contravened it and I know his teammates weren't happy either."
In response to Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori's initial reaction, Morrison said it was fair enough.
Television pictures showed the disgusted reaction of Vettori, who later apologised, and his players on the team balcony.
"Why shouldn't Vettori say something, the whole thing is too politically correct now."
Morrison thoughts were more in line with the British press, who unloaded their distaste of the event on the English skipper.
"Captain Cock-Up," screamed the lead headline in tabloid paper the Sun.
"Paul Collingwood will be forever tainted after his disgraceful and inexplicable decision to win at all costs," wrote its cricket writer John Etheridge.
"[Collingwood] is one of cricket's most likeable characters, yet he took leave of his senses yesterday and trampled all over the spirit of the game."
In the Daily Mail, cricket writer Paul Newman said Collingwood's contrition afterwards when he approached the New Zealand team and admitted he was wrong not to call back an injured Elliott didn't excuse him.
"The apology may have been instant but the damage will take a long time to repair," Newman wrote. "This was the worst incident involving an England captain since Mike Gatting argued with [Pakistani] umpire Shakoor Rana 21 years ago and Paul Collingwood's reputation may be sullied forever."
The Guardian's David Hopps drew a parallel with another captaincy lowlight, saying the incident "risked condemnation as the lowest moment for an England captain since Mike Atherton's ball-tampering furore 14 years ago". Former England seamer Angus Fraser wrote in the Independent that England's reputation was further sullied after their Birmingham go-slow.
"Sadly, England, for the second time in eight days, were guilty of betraying the bedrock of sport - the spirit of cricket."
Fraser said, thankfully, justice was done when New Zealand snuck home for a one-wicket victory.
Two former England captains, Atherton and Nasser Hussain, were more forgiving.
Writing in the Times, Atherton said Collingwood was "outstanding in his honesty and contrition" at the end but it might take time for England fans to forgive him.
"England lost the match, but, more importantly, a good deal of self-respect in that moment.
"Collingwood will have an uncomfortable couple of days, replaying in his mind the moment that he upheld the appeal until Lord's on Saturday, when the reaction of the most conservative crowd in England will let him know whether he has been forgiven."
Hussain, in the Daily Mail, said Collingwood's decision not to recall Elliott was "totally wrong", but he excelled himself in admitting the error.
"A lot of stubborn captains would have refused to admit they had made a mistake."
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
