Former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni wins the ICC’s Spirit of cricket of the decade award for his gesture towards Ian Bell in 2011.
During India’s tour of England in 2011, in the 2nd Test at Nottingham, Dhoni opted to bowl first and dismissed England on 221. Rahul Dravid’s 34th Test century then helped India to score 288/10 in reply.
During the 3rd day of the play, in the over before the Tea, Morgan tucked Ishant Sharma on the leg side. Running square from fine leg, Praveen Kumar dived to stop the boundary.
Bell and Morgan thought that it was a boundary and began to walk for the Tea. Just then, Kumar threw the ball back to Dhoni who passed it to Abhinav Mukund as he dislodged the bails.
This created controversy and after discussion with Strauss and Flower during the Tea, Dhoni recalled Bell.
“It’s fantastic the way India have gone about this. The captains and coaches got together, and were asked if the decision would stand. Duncan Fletcher and MS Dhoni went back to discuss it with the team and came back to us, and I got the nod,” Bell had expressed relief after the day’s play while taking to broadcaster Star Sports.
England went on to win the Test by 319 runs.
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