Cricket being termed as a gentleman’s game is probably based on the sport’s rich and augmented history. Over the years, however, the game has indeed shown its dreary side; whether the reason being ball-tampering, match-fixing or even a dispute between the players and the officials.
Over the course of its 142 years of existence, controversy has followed cricket like a shadow. And with that being said, we list down five most debatable matches that have ever been played:
1. England vs South Africa (1992 World Cup):
Led by Kepler Wessels, a talented South African team managed to reach the semi-final of the 1992 Cricket World Cup in only their first appearance in the tournament. Facing England in an absolute rain-affected fixture, the game was reduced to 45 over, with the Proteas left to chase 253 in the given overs.
In turn, South Africa scored 232/6, needing 22 runs in 13 deliveries. But as the rain gods poured, once again, two overs were lost, and through the D/L method, Wessels’ men were left to chase 22 off just one delivery. The match ended with England making their way to the finals, and the result, till date, remains one of the most talked about endings in the sport.
2. India vs Sri Lanka (1996 World Cup):
Playing in front of a jam-packed Eden Gardens crowd, India were well on course of chasing 252 set by Sri Lanka in the semi-final of the 1996 World Cup. At 98/1, the target seemed approachable for India, but a bowling brilliance by the Lankan Lions saw the Men in Blue losing seven wickets for next 22 runs.
Now with the victory pretty much out of sight, the crowd went into a frenzy, throwing water bottles and everything they could reach on the ground. Following a 15-minute halt, match referee Clive Lloyd called off the fixture, and Sri Lanka were announced as the winners.
3. West Indies vs Australia (1999):
With the seven-match ODI series drawn at level terms (2-2), both West Indies and Australia entered the fifth ODI with an intent of leaving a positive mark. Following a rain-affected tenure, the match was reduced to 30 overs per side. The home team, West Indies, posted 173/5 on board, and following a real see-saw Australia innings, the game came down to an extent where the visitors needed four off just one delivery.
Facing Keith Arthurton, Steve Waugh hit the ball to the mid-wicket boundary, and as soon as they went for their third run, the crowd invaded the pitch thinking that West Indies has won the game. After an hour though, ICC chief Raman Subba Row declared the game as a tie, stating that “common sense must prevail” and “cricket had to be the winner”.
4. England vs Pakistan (2006):
August 20, 2006; the fourth day of the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval saw a massive controversy erupt as umpire Darrell Hair accused the Pakistan team of ball tampering soon after the lunch break, while also awarding England five runs as a penalty.
As the teams went into the tea break, Pakistan, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, decided not to return to the field as a mark of protest. After waiting for a while, the umpires removed the bails and England were declared as the winners. Pakistan did return to the field some 55 minutes after the resumption of the play, but the umpires said the game has officially ended. As for England, they were willing to continue but the game ended.
Two years after the incident, ICC declared the game as a draw. A year later, however, they reversed the result on the MCC's recommendation, and England still remain the winners of the tie.
5. Australia vs India (2008):
While the ‘Monkeygate’ controversy remains one of the most talked about incidents in cricket history, the second Test of 2007/08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy goes way beyond that, as the umpires got as many as 12 decisions wrong during the game. Despite being one of the most experienced umpires, Steve Bucknor was criticized for having one of the worst matches of his career.
According to a report, a whopping 8 out of the 11 controversial umpiring decisions went against India, which well and truly turned the course of the match. Following the game, which Australia won by 122 runs, BCCI called for the removal of Bucknor for the third Test. A few days later New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden was named as his replacement.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter
