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The sport of cricket has evolved considerably over the past few decades. While the game started off in a few countries initially, it gained increased adulation and traction as the years passed, meaning that it became more commercialised and attracted a lot more coverage.
Subsequently, cricketers began being viewed with a different perspective, especially considering they were treated as premier sportsmen capable of making a difference to the world and of course, the sport.
In the process, each move (good and bad) started being scrutinised exponentially as fans looked for inspiration and, moments to vent their frustration.
Inevitably, the above led to several controversies, both on the field and off it, as cricketers, being humans, were also prone to the odd error in judgement.
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Thus, as the decade crawls to a close, it is time to take a trip down memory lane and relive the greatest controversies to have taken place over the past ten years.
Without further ado, here is a look at them.
#10 Ambati Rayudu’s 3D tweet
Not many in Indian cricket have endured as topsy-turvy a career as Ambati Rayudu. After being touted as a future star, he lost his way before finding himself adequately placed for a shot at redemption at the 2019 CWC. Unfortunately, though, that opportunity was seized away from him, with the top-brass remarking his inability to triple up as a 3-dimensional cricketer.
Subsequently, Rayudu embarked on a rather funny but damning tirade, wherein he claimed that he was ready for the quadrennial event, well stocked with his 3D glasses.
Inevitably, that proved to be the final straw in the camel’s back and his international career was finished by all intents, purposes and obviously, from all dimensions.
#9 Mohammad Shahzad is strangely sent home from the 2019 ICC CWC
With an enormous World Cup assignment on hand, Afghanistan somehow decided the time was ripe to indulge in a bit of strange selection politics. A couple of games into the tournament, Mohammad Shahzad was oddly sent back home, citing a knee injury that had supposedly been aggravated over the past few days.
Rather amusingly though, the wicket-keeper came out stating he was perfectly healthy and capable of playing. Plenty of back and forth public ordeals later, Shahzad was suspended by the Afghanistan Cricket Board for an indefinite period. Perhaps, not the beginning the Afghans and Shahzad were looking for, especially at a competition that was to signal their coming of age.
#8 Kohli shows the finger at the SCG in 2012
Australian cricketing stadiums are never cordial to visiting players and Virat Kohli bore that brunt at the SCG in 2012. After the Indians were pasted all around the park, the right-hander went to field on the fence hoping for a bit of calm and solace. Nothing of the sort materialised though as abuses were hurled left, right and centre, a string that ended with Kohli brandishing the middle finger to those in attendance.
And, at the very venue where the infamous Monkey Gate had unfolded, the Indians found themselves in the eye of another storm. Though that meant a bit of attention was taken away from their dire display, it certainly cast Kohli as the ultimate antagonist for oppositions.
#7 Nigel Llong’s blunder in the inaugural day-night Test
Under the lights at the Adelaide Oval, Australia and New Zealand engaged themselves in the 1st ever Day-Night Test match in history. Apart from questionable shot-selection, that game had traversed peacefully until Nigel Llong, the third umpire, looked at the game from a different lens altogether.
Nathan Lyon’s attempted sweep shot with Australia tottering at 117-8 seemingly struck his bat before hitting his shoulder and popping up to gully. After being given not-out, the Kiwis went for the review, only for images to confirm their suspicion.
In a startling turn of events though, Llong upheld the original decision, famously quipping that the mark on the bat ‘could’ve come from anywhere’. More amazingly though, that moment changed the complexion of the contest, with Australia staging a comeback to eventually win the encounter.
And, Nigel Llong and the case of the mysterious spot on the bat unwittingly wrote itself into cricketing folklore.
#6 The Harsha Bhogle-Sanjay Manjrekar spat
The 1st day-night Test in India marked a new era for Indian cricket. Unsurprisingly, there was palpable excitement across the aisles as several rejoiced in the prospect of watching a Test under lights.
Among all the furore though, Sanjay Manjrekar embroiled himself in his customary controversy.
On air with Harsha Bhogle, the pair discussed the visibility of the pink ball. At that juncture, Mr. Manjrekar decided to remind the former his lack of playing experience, stating that those who played enough of the game didn’t have any issues about spotting the ball.
The comments by the former Indian cricketer were extremely distasteful and irked the Indian faithful significantly. However, one reckons that such remarks wouldn’t be too far away when Manjrekar is on commentary and one can probably expect another such controversy to crop up, even after the turn of the decade.
#5 Ben Stokes responds to The Sun’s obnoxious remarks
The Sun, one of England’s leading publications, has often taken it upon themselves to brew a controversy out of nothing. And, they were at it in September 2019 too when they published a rather disgusting story involving a tragedy that had engulfed Ben Stokes’ family, 31 years ago.
To compound matters, they sent reporters to the all-rounder’s house in New Zealand to get a possible lead. Stokes wasn’t too pleased with the newspaper’s antics and he responded with a powerful message, calling out The Sun for indulging in the ‘lowest form of journalism’ and asking for people to allow his family to recover.
More detestably though, the publication, courtesy the Stokes episode, had furthered a rather unwanted reputation of ‘sensationalising’ matters for their own gain. It seems a new dawn isn’t on the horizon for The Sun anytime soon.
#4 Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals get banned from the IPL
The IPL has never been shy of controversy and those traits reached a crescendo during the 2013 and 2014 editions. Ankeet Chavan and S Sreesanth were alleged to have committed spot-fixing violations and they were subsequently banned from the sport. And, though the latter’ suspension was reduced to 7 years recently, the incident had much graver consequences for his team.
After further investigation, it was found that Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra, owners of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals respectively, were guilty of betting.
Consequently, both were banned from any cricketing activity whereas CSK and RR were also barred from taking part in the IPL in 2016 and 2017. Truly a dark day for Indian cricket.
#3 Pakistan’s spot-fixing scandal at Lord’s in 2010
At the turn of the decade, Pakistan had an embarrassment of riches on the fast bowling front. Yet, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif somehow thought that it was smart enough to put it all on the line for a few extra pounds.
The pair, choreographed by Salman Butt, the skipper for the tour, inexplicably bowled no-balls that exceeded the popping crease by at least a foot. It wasn’t a surprise that they were held accountable for their actions and slapped with a hefty ban.
Though Amir returned to play for Pakistan later in the decade, his inability to choose between right and wrong ultimately cost him a place in the legion of Pakistan’s fast-bowling greats.
#2 Dhoni walks onto the field to contest a no-ball at the 2019 IPL
With the game between CSK and RR tantalisingly poised, a hint of miscommunication between the on-field umpires prompted MS Dhoni to forego his cool approach and march onto the field.
To put things into perspective, the former Indian skipper had gotten out before the incident had occurred and had no right trying to impose his will on the officials. Yet, the magnitude of the situation ensured that Dhoni, for once, courted on-field controversy.
Fortunately, though, CSK ended up on the winning side. Else, things could’ve just gotten much more pear-shaped.
#1 The Sandpaper Gate
Australia toured South Africa in 2018 as the Aussies looked to ride on the wave of optimism generated after an Ashes triumph. However, things didn’t particularly pan out as expected in the Rainbow Nation.
With the series delicately placed at 1-1 before the game at Cape Town, the Aussies seemed compact and boasted quite a few tricks up their sleeve. Yet, at Newlands, they also unfurled a gambit from deep within their ‘tactical’ pockets, a move that was to send shockwaves throughout the cricketing circuit.
Cameron Bancroft was caught scuffing the ball with sandpaper, in order to make it conducive to reverse-swing. Subsequently, he admitted to the offence with Steve Smith and David Warner also acknowledging their parts, considering the ploy had been hatched by the ‘leadership group.’
Though each returned to represent Australia after their respective bans, one feels that their reputations would always remain tarnished. And, maybe, even sandpaper might not be able to rub off those blemishes.
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