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Australia captain Greg Chappell had his brother, Trevor, bowl the final ball underarm, securing a win but sparking controversy and losing the respect of cricketers and fans.
Australia skipper Greg Chappell (in pic) instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to deliver the final ball underarm. (File pic)
On This Day In 1981: Exactly 24 years ago, ODI cricket witnessed a dark chapter when New Zealand faced Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The match is remembered as a watershed moment in cricket, not for its thrilling play but due to the blatant disregard for the sport’s spirit. The incident occurred during the third final of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup 1980/81 on February 1.
After an intense game of cricket, a draw was within New Zealand’s grasp as they required six runs in the match’s last delivery. Australia skipper Greg Chappell had other plans as he instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to deliver the final ball underarm. While the loophole exploit secured Australia a win, it also sparked controversy and cost him the respect of fellow cricketers and fans.
The Benson and Hedges World Series Cup 1980/81 was a tri-nation bilateral tour between India, Australia and New Zealand. India registered only three wins in the 10 matches they played, missing out on the best-of-four final.
The Kiwis kicked off the finals with a convincing 78-run victory on January 29 in Sydney. Australia answered back with a seven-wicket triumph in Melbourne two days later to level the tie 1-1.
In the third match of the series, Australia batted first and set a scoreline of 235 runs on the board. Graeme Wood and Greg Chappell made the most impact with knocks of 72 and 90, respectively. In the second innings, Bruce Edgar fired on all cylinders during New Zealand’s chase. He scored a century to keep New Zealand in the game, bringing them closer to a draw.
Brian McKechnie was set to face the final ball of regulation. Anything less than a six would result in Australia’s win. While the odds favoured the Aussies, Greg wanted to avoid the Kiwis any chance of tying the match.
At the time, bowling an underarm ball wasn’t unlawful. The move, however, was widely considered to be against the spirit of the game as it was near-impossible for a batter to hit an underarm delivery.
The controversial ball eventually led to Australia taking a 2-1 lead in the finals but it changed the game forever.
Following this incident, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned underarm bowling after recognising its detrimental effect on the game. While the ban addressed the immediate issue, it couldn’t prevent the damage caused to Australia’s reputation.
The underarm ball incident is a stark reminder of how important it is to uphold the values of the game’s spirit. It is a cautionary tale highlighting the dangers of prioritising a win at all costs.
