7 instances when Australia brought disrepute to the game of cricket
Over the years, Australia has been a sort of diabolical side – excellent at their game and also looking to entertain as well, yet they have been not the most popular in the cricketing world. Being the pioneers of many changes in the game, they have somehow managed to get one up over their opponents. But not without a fair share of controversies, that often highlight the gulf between ICC rules and the spirit of the game laid down by the MCC.
Both of them though were clearly abused by the Aussies in the third Test at Cape Town against South Africa. Ball tampering has existed since years. Yet the manner of its execution by the Australian side enraged their fans and detractors alike across the globe. When it involves top players such as Steve Smith and David Warner who are also leaders of their side, cricket’s name is definitely maligned. It is no surprise that the word ‘cheat’ has been used for them and made many question Australia’s existence in the game.
But this isn’t the first time that the country’s cricket side have made the news for all the wrong reasons. Here are seven other instances before the Cape Town Test when Australian cricket had to see dark days, either for a short period or a long period of time
#1 The underarm ball incident (1981)
Australia took on Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in an ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981. The game went right down to the wire as the Kiwis needed 6 runs off the last ball to make it a tie. Greg Chappell, the then Australian captain asked his younger brother Trevor Chappell to bowl that delivery under-arm to the Kiwi tailender Brian McKechnie. Something that was never done or heard of before.
Australia won the game to go 2-1 up in the 5 match series. Yet McKechnie’s frustration of throwing the bat away after facing such a delivery is an iconic visual in the game’s annals. The reactions that followed in both the countries were adverse towards the Chappell brothers. Having done nothing unlawful at that time, the laws were amended courtesy this incident to ban underarm bowling in international cricket. The spirit of the game came into question because of the Aussies for the first time perhaps in history.