ICC Chief Dave Richardson: Dhoni, Dravid as important as “larger than life” Kohli, Stokes

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on Wednesday said that while the world of cricket needs “larger than life characters” like Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes, it also needs a Mahendra Singh Dhoni or a Rahul Dravid to maintain the integrity of the game.

Speaking at the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, Richardson said that the constant increase in sledging and cheating has made the game imbalanced and cricket needs better exponents to remain “on the good side of the line.”

“On the field cricket needs its larger than life characters. Its Colin Milburns, Freddie Flintoffs, Shane Warnes, Virat Kohlis, Ben Stokes but equally it needs its Frank Worrells, its Mahendra Singh Dhonis, its Rahul Dravids, its Colin Cowdreys to make sure that we all stay in the good side of that line,” said Richardson during his lecture.

The likes of Kohli and Stokes have been hitting the headlines not only for their performance but also for their aggressiveness and animated celebrations during the matches. While cricketers like Dhoni and Dravid are famous for their subdued and calm approach towards everything.

“Cricket’s DNA is based on integrity. But we have seen too much behaviour of late that puts that in jeopardy and this has to stop,” he added saying the game’s DNA has been spoiled by the recent bad behaviours on the field.

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The former South African wicket-keeper, however, agreed that apex cricket body “does not have all the answers to the challenges” it faces but is “working collectively to solve them”.

He also touched upon the steps taken by the ICC to punish any form of abuse with a six-Test or 12-match suspension in limited-overs cricket.

“The touring team should be treated as “honoured guests with the standard of practice facilities and other logistical arrangements exactly the same as the home team, if not better,” he said adding that the ICC wants to educate the players on what it means to play the game in the right spirit.

Citing an example of former Proteas all-rounder Mike Proctor, who during his stint as the national coach always respected the umpire’s decisions, Richardson took a jibe at the present coaches and their staff who he feels always supports the players in criticising the match-officials.

“Too many coaches or team managers of recent times are too quick to side with their players, blame the umpires for being biased against their team, storming off to the match referee’s room to complain,” he added.

“Winning must obviously be the aim of any game but not at all costs, not when it means compromising the integrity of the game.”