Mike Brearley - The Spirit of Cricket
August 19th 2008

FORMER England cricket captain Mike Brearley was the featured speaker at last Friday’s 52nd annual presentation function of the T&T Cricket Board, held in the Borough of Chaguanas.

Speaking on the theme the ‘Spirit of Cricket’, Brearley, president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), said the role of the club has changed along with the international atmosphere of the game. "Today, the atmosphere at the MCC has changed rapidly," and Brearley believes the change is for the better.

"The MCC is now like an upper chamber of cricket...somewhat removed from the political and promotional issues, which are negotiated by the world governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC) and the national cricket boards such as the West Indies Cricket Board and the England and Wales Cricket Board," Brearley said.

"As such, the MCC can rightly have an important role in cricket, akin to the House of Lords in England...the chamber with little power but with some influence.

"The MCC is still the guardians of the rules of cricket," he said, adding: "It now has a World Cricket Committee so it can act as part of the conscience of the game without setting itself up as the pinnacle of self-righteousness," Brearley added.

In this regard, Brearley dealt with the issues regarding walking when the batsman knows that he is out, sledging, cheating and healthy rivalry, and the use of technology.

He believes that once it is available, technology should be used because, as he sees it: "The highest priority should be given to getting as many decisions as possible right."

In the dilemma between the spirit of cricket, cheating and honest rivalry, Brearley believes that the attitude to competitiveness is relevant. "Without rivalry, sport would not get off the ground so there is a need for healthy rivalry between respected individuals and, in many contexts, rivalry is a necessary feature of life.

"It supports proper ambition and it helps develops a full self, but healthy rivalry requires a degree of separation."

Rivalry is good but it must not be allowed to degenerate into cheating and bring the game into disrepute and it is up to the players to enure that the game is played in the right spirt,” Brearley further stated.

It is not always about winning and, as Brearley put it: "Match fixing treats everyone and the game itself in contempt.

"Whether you walk or not, in or out, you should get off the field as quickly as possible and get on with the game.

"The MCC takes pride in not only cricket but making sure cricket should be played in the right way," Brearley ended.

Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo copped the International ‘Cricketer of the Year’ title, while leading off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth was voted Senior ‘National Cricketer of the Year’.

West Indies youth opening batsman Adrian Barath picked up the ‘Youth Cricketer of the Year’ award.