Sitting in the sun at Lords last Tuesday I was surrounded by slightly more check shirted chaps than normal but otherwise still gazed out on a familiar scene: the sporting bore peddling his bone advice to anyone within range of his halitosis, the competitive father living his frustrated sporting aspirations through his young and distracted son, the watery eyed duffers snoozing off after and into their heavy lunch. Excess check shirts apart, the sole distinguishing feature was the quality of the cricket. For the two teams battling it out in the middle in the 100th Army Navy cricket game were amateur...and there was certainly no mistaking it. The Navy (day job decommissioning warships), steadfastly relied upon one of my own most prolific scoring strokes, the edge through 3rd slip, struggled, initially, to score more runs than they have nuclear submarines and fielded with the all professionalism and fighting spirit of a boarding party kidnapped by the Iranians. Nevertheless despite some obvious shortcomings it was a compelling spectacle, notable for the spirit in which it was played. Spirit, that old fashioned concept often alien and anachronistic in the world of professional sport where players are merely assets on a balance sheet, entertainment workers, salaried, like executives, according to the revenues they draw in. When cash is at stake, bank loans to be serviced, jobs on the line then the rules of the boardroom and not the spirit of the game must prevail. Maybe it should be less of a surprise to us spectators when a man whose salary depends on his profile, depends on his first team place, refuses to walk until triggered by the umpire. Would we really expect any of titans of business or revered private equity gurus to relinquish their business interests in the face of an unwritten rule or informal understanding? Until there is a breach of contract that risks punitive legal damages then anything goes. Which is why is was so refreshing to witness this amateur spectacle at Lords. As the Navy edged their way to double, and, eventually, triple figures at the speed of a MOD procurement project, I was happy to compromise on quality and enjoy the novelty of a sporting contest played with gusto and pride in the amateur spirit . Marvel at the skill of professional sportsman, emulate his training schedule and envy his girlfriend but understand the nature of the beast and don’t necessarily expect him to lose gracefully or honourably.