10 Biggest Controversies in Cricket History

3. The Underarm Incident €“ Australia vs. New Zealand, 1981

If former Aussie captain Ian Chappell is to be believed, the Underarm Incident is New Zealand€™s equivalent of Bodyline €“ in other words, a time where the letter of the law clashed with the spirit of the game, tarnishing careers and creating deep divides in the process. Unlike most of the entries in this list, this incident took place in a one-day international €“ specifically the third final of the 1981 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup. New Zealand had been set 236 to win, and needed 15 runs from the last over. Having lost two wickets in the over, New Zealand needed a six off the last ball to tie the match and keep the series at 1-1. Greg Chappell, the Australian captain, ordered his younger brother Trevor to bowl an underarm delivery for the last ball, to prevent New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie from scoring the six runs needed. Trevor Chappell protested, believing that it wasn€™t in the spirit of the game. He bowled the delivery, Australia won the game and the teams walked off to booing and jeering. Bowling underarm was legal within the Benson & Hedges rulebook, but it was not considered sportsmanlike. The decision brought criticism from all sides. Ian Chappell criticised his brother on commentary, while Australian legend Richie Benaud called it €œone of the worst things I have ever seen done on a cricket field.€ The Prime Ministers of both nations waded in, accusing Australia of cowardice and poor sportsmanship. But there were two final bitter twists to the on-field action. The first was that, while neither Greg nor Trevor Chappell were censured for the incident, McKechnie was prosecuted for bringing the game into disrepute after hurling his bat away in disgust. The other is that as Chappell bowled the ball, Dennis Lillee was not standing inside the fielding circle: the Australians were using an illegal fielding position, so it was technically a no-ball all along. What Happened Next: The rules of cricket were changed by the ICC to make underarm bowling illegal in all formats of the game. Trevor Chappell€™s career was forever tarnished, and to this day none of the three brothers are willing to discuss the matter.
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Freelance copywriter, film buff, community radio presenter. Former host of The Movie Hour podcast (http://www.lionheartradio.com/ and click 'Interviews'), currently presenting on Phonic FM in Exeter (http://www.phonic.fm/). Other loves include theatre, music and test cricket.