DUBAI: As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council on Wednesday announced Daryl Mitchell as the winner of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.

Mitchell won the award for his gesture of refusing to take a single in the high-pressure T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi in November, becoming the fourth New Zealander to win the award after Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.

“It is a real honour to receive the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award and it was absolutely amazing to be part of the ICC T20 World Cup,” Mitchell said.

The incident took place in the first delivery of the 18th over bowled by England leg-spinner Adil Rashid with Jimmy Neesham on strike. New Zealand at that moment required 34 off the final three overs and despite the match situation, Mitchell refused to take the single as he felt he was in the bowler’s way, who tried to stop the ball on his follow-through. Neesham had hit the ball firmly slightly wide off Rashid’s reach, who collided with Mitchell as he went on to stop the ball. Neesham was eager to take the single and had come down the wicket seeing the opportunity but was turned down by Mitchell from the other end.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022