6 on-field unsporting acts by the Australian cricket team
Ever since Trevor Chappell infamously bowled the underarm delivery at the behest of his brother, Greg Chappell, which denied New Zealand a well-deserved victory in 1981, ‘play with passion, play hard and play with pride’ has been the motto of the Australian Cricket team.Over the years, Australia leapfrogged from one triumph to another, comprehensively ruling the last decade and half with their talent, spirit and competitiveness. However, the indomitable streak of going all out for a victory, even if that entails unfair methods, has, more often than not, divided the cricket loving public, who would rather cringe at the mannerisms of a team than applaud the finest feats achieved.Defining ugliness in a new light, the Kangaroos have taken cricket to a level where the desire to win expresses itself in the form of aggression and getting under the skin of the opposition with words and gestures. As the glares transcend to unnecessary banter and the enthusiasm converts to a rough cockiness, the Australian team have managed to set a new standard for a boorish arrogance, a path rather not treaded upon by the other nations.Defending their tasks day in and day out are members of this team who give the “excitement, passion and adrenalin” theory, which makes the average fan wonder whether they are the only set of players who play with “excitement, passion and adrenalin.” What about teams like South Africa and New Zealand, who refrain from such explicit provocations, yet manage to make a mark with their competitiveness?A champion is not always the one who takes home the top prize, which makes us question the tag given to the Australian Cricket team. The best? Definitely. But true champions? A rhetorical question indeed.Following the controversial dismissal of Englishman Ben Stokes against Australia last week, where he was adjudged out obstructing the field, with critics suggesting that he was only defending himself after bowler Mitchell Starc threw the ball back at him, networking sites have been abuzz with the unsporting character shown by the Men in Yellow, especially captain Steve Smith, who many believed, should have called back the batsman.Here are 6 instances in recent history when the Australian team left us stunned at the unsporting deeds they had to offer during a cricket match.
#6 Slater wrongly claims a catch and sledges Rahul Dravid, Australia vs India, 2001
Australian batsman Michael Slater was involved in an ugly, unnecessary confrontation with Rahul Dravid, a player who epitomises humility in the game even today.
During the first innings of the first Test match of the historic Australia-India series in 2001, Dravid mistimed a pull shot into the hands of Slater, who was confident that the catch was taken cleanly.
Replays however suggested that the ball had fallen inches short of the fielder’s hands.
As the third umpire flashed the green light, Slater hurled a mouthful of words at the hapless Dravid.
What did the Indian do to attract the unceremonious words, one wonders?