Sporting Behaviour Is Not Dead.....Yet

In this age of super high salaries, petulant superstars and wannabe superstars demanding more money than the man in the street could shake a stick at it was heartwarming to see four examples of sportsmanship over the weekend.

First up was Mitchell Johnson on Saturday morning. Johnson had been left 'stranded' on 96 not out the previous evening and was being interviewed by Sky's Mark Nicholas. Nicholas suggested that Johnson should be angry with his two team mates who had contrived to getting themselves out, Johnson wouldn't have any of it, he said it had been a privilege to bat and score more runs than he could have expected.

Second the same morning was J.P Duminy who 'walked' before the umpire, Billy Bowden, even had to consider raising that famous crooked finger of his. Duminy obviously comes from the Adam Gilchrist school of batting.

Third was Sunday afternoon at the end of the Carling Cup Final. As the Man. United players ran to mob 'Dave' Anderson for scoring the winning penalty, Paul Scholes a player who now has the complete set of winners medals went to the Spurs keeper Gomez and offered him a consoling shake of the hand and pat on the back.

Finally step forward Ryan Sidebottom who, having just bowled out Sarwan for 291, waited for the batsman to pass him half way down the wicket and, instead of giving him instructions as to how to find the dressing room as some players might, he shook his hand.

Of course things changed a little later for Sidebottom when he lost the flight of a shot off the bowling of Graeme Swann and the watching cricketing audience were treated to Swann's outburst, "Effing hell Sidey, what are you playing at?"