315. Spirit Or Spectacle? Cricket’s Moral Compass Under The Spotlight

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 315 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. From the MCC’s lofty ideals to the raw heat of the middle, the “Spirit of Cricket” is never far from controversy — but what does it really mean in the modern game? 

In this episode, we dive into two recent flashpoints that lit up cricket’s moral debate: Wiaan Mulder’s self-declaration at 367, stopping short of Brian Lara’s record out of respect, and Ben Stokes’ Old Trafford ‘Handshake-gate’ with India, where cultural values, milestone-chasing, and perceived hypocrisy clashed. 

Are these moments examples of sportsmanship, missed opportunity, or just personal choice being judged through someone else’s lens? We unpack the incidents, the outrage, and the bigger question — who truly gets to define the Spirit of Cricket?

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