Yes, dear readers. It's 30 years this very day since one of the lowest points in trans-Tasman sporting relations took place; the day that Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of an ODI at the Melbourne Cricker Ground underarm.
It was Game Three of the five-match finals series in the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup; the first time that the New Zealand team had participated in the pyjama game in Australia. New Zealand won the first finals match, and Australia won the second. This match would give the winners an advantage. Batting first, Australia scored 235 for four. With one ball remaining, New Zealand needed six to tie, and a new batsman, Brian McKechnie had just come to the crease. The rest is, as they say in the classics, history.
Reaction was swift. The rules of the WSC were changed the next day to forbid underarm bowling. New Zealand PM Robert Muldoon described it as "the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket", going on to say that "it was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow". Australian PM Malcolm Fraser called the act "contrary to the traditions of the game.". And the rivalry between New Zealand and Australian on the sporting field went up several notches.
This was indeed a very sad day for cricket. In the video that follows, Richie Benaud, himself a former Australian captain rightly got stuck in to Greg Chappell labelling the incident as a "disgraceful performance from a captail who got his sums wrong today". We love to criticise the Channel Nine cheeleading of Australian cricket, but on this occasion, Benaud was 100% right, in our always-humble opinion.
Here, in its full glory, is the last over of this never-to-be-forgotten day, with Benaud's posmatch wrap following.
5 comments:
The funniest part of the affair was that the third brother, Ian lit into Greg and basically said that he was a disgrace to Australian cricket.
He also pointed out that the umpire should have called a no-ball as thare was one more player than allowed behind square-leg.
One brother ordering it, another brother bowling it and the third brother calling a foul.
Indeed Anon; Wikipedia reports that Dennis Lillee was outside to 30m circle when the ball was bowled, and that a no-ball should have been called. It all adds to the mystique and legend.
Thank you Inventory2.
I didn't think to look it up in Wikipedia.
I rembered Ian calling it a no-ball but I was relying on my memory for the exact reason. Oh well, I suppose after thirty years I should be grateful I remember anything about it at all.
I understand completely Anon; important things are hard to remember, but for some reason, trivia seems to stay there!
Never ever forget the other critical moment in the match.
Greg Chappell being given not out when clearly caught by Martin Sneddon. Both umpires allegedly watching for one short' when the catch was taken.
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