10 Biggest Controversies in Cricket History

4. €œI Intend To Make Them Grovel€ €“ England vs. West Indies, 1976

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQtW4OzbzKk The West Indies arrived in England in 1976 having been thumped 5-1 by Australia the year before. Australia had previously defeated England in the 1974-75 Ashes, a series dominated by the devastating pace of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, often regarded as the fastest bowler in history. England captain Tony Greig appeared on TV to discuss England€™s build-up and how hard he thought the contest would be. Faced with an interviewer who was biased towards the West Indies, Greig retorted that he didn€™t think they offered any real threat. And then he made the remake that hung around his neck like an albatross throughout the tour: €œif they€™re down, they grovel, and I intend, with the hope of and a few others to make them grovel.€ Greig€™s gaffe touched a nerve for three reasons. Firstly, the word €œgrovel€ had strong connotations with the slave trade, in which Britain was instrumental right up to the mid-19th century. Secondly, they came in the middle of apartheid in South Africa: the South African cricket team was banned from competing at test level under the terms of the Gleneagles Agreement. And thirdly, Greig was a white South African, who had qualified to play for England by his Scottish parentage. Greig€™s words spurred the West Indies along, as their fast bowlers attacked England€™s batsman with fast, short-pitched bowling and added yards to their run-up whenever Greig walked out to bat. Michael Holding had a brilliant series, bowling England out on a flat Oval pitch and almost killing 45-year-old Brian Close with a bouncer that just missed his head. Greig had a poor series with bat and ball, taking only five wickets and being frequently clean bowled. What Happened Next: The West Indies won the series 3-0. Greig retained the England captaincy, only to lose it a year later for his involvement in World Series Cricket (more on that later).