Peculiar Fantasy Cricket Controversies that Shocked the Whole World
Every few years, controversies will erupt over the game of cricket. Test match cricket’s survival has been put into doubt on several occasions, but the game has always come out on top. Cricket’s reputation as a gentleman’s game stems from the sport’s long and illustrious history. However, the game has shown its bleak side throughout the years, whether due to ball-tampering, match-fixing, or even a fight between players and referees. Cricket has been haunted by controversies for almost all of its entire 142-year history.
Every ardent fan of fantasy cricket in Bangladesh might be aware of the many controversies related to this game but for those who are still unaware of these facts, we have summed up the top 5 controversies related to world cricket that you might look into.
Bodyline (1932-33)
The Bodyline series between Australia and England in 1932-33, which was famous for the visitors’ usage of short-pitched bowling, remains one of the most controversial series to date. The English fast bowlers, led by captain Douglas Jardine, roughed up their opponents in an attempt to end Don Bradman’s supremacy as Australia’s best-ever batsman. They won the series 4-1, almost causing an international issue in the process.
Hansie Cronje Affair
In the 1990s, Hansie Cronje was the face of South African cricket. He was the national team’s captain, and he seemed to encapsulate all that had made South African cricket a success. He was tough, unyielding, made the most of his abilities, and was a fantastic captain who got the most out of his teammates. But, despite his good image as a player, it was later discovered that he had accepted payments from bookies in a match-fixing scandal that shook the cricket world. Cronje resigned as captain in disgrace and was sentenced to a lifetime ban in 2000. Cronje died in an aircraft crash in 2002, bringing his tragic story to a terrible conclusion.
India vs Sri Lanka (1996 World Cup)
In front of a raucous Eden Gardens crowd, team India was well on their way to surpassing Sri Lanka’s total of 252 runs in the 1996 World Cup semi-final. The goal appeared reachable for India while they were at 98/1, but the Lankan Lions bowling prowess came in hard for the Men in Blue which eventually led them to lose seven wickets for 22 runs. The audience erupted into a frenzy, tossing water bottles and whatever else they could get on the ground now that the victory was almost out of sight. After a 15-minute break, match referee Clive Lloyd called the game off, and by default Sri Lanka was declared the winner.
Darrell Hair Calling No Balls for Muttiah Muralitharan (1995)
During a Test game back in 1995 between Australia and Sri Lanka, umpire Darrell Hair called seven no-balls in three overs against Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Hair felt the off-spinner was throwing the ball on purpose, which enraged Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga to the point of removing his team off the field. This was not the only time Muralitharan was called for throwing by an umpire, but ICC testing revealed that his arm was flexed inside the permissible limit of 15 degrees.
Glenn McGrath’s Fierce Rivalry with Ramnaresh Sarwan
During the fourth day of a Test game between West Indies and Australia in Antigua in 2003, Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan notoriously clashed, resulting in a verbal altercation between the two men. For a few overs, there had been a simmering tension between the two, which reached a head when McGrath made a sexual joke towards Sarwan and West Indies’s great Brian Lara. Both captains apologized after the game, and both did their best to calm the tensions between the squads.
Throughout the year, there have been a lot of controversies in this game that made headlines. Some were true, but the rest of them were just hoaxes. But if you are a true fan of this game and want to excel in fantasy games in Bangladesh, you should not give much attention to these controversies. Focus on the game and keep practicing.
Read More:
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2. 5 Bowlers Who Successfully Set the Record for the Fastest Bowling
3. 5 Renowned Captains Every Fantasy Cricket Player Should Know About
