Top 5 controversies in Ashes history

#2 Vandals dig out the pitch

Captains Ian Chappell and Tony Greig inspect the pitch dug out by vandals

On the final day of the third Test at Headingley in 1975, Australia needed 225 more runs to retain the Ashes and they had seven wickets remaining. But players and fans were robbed of a potential thriller due to an act of vandalism.

On the final morning, groundsman George Cawthray uncovered the pitch to discover that huge chunks had been dug out.

After further inspection, it was learned that some holes had been filled with oil. As a consequence, the match was abandoned. It was suggested that the match should be replayed but the touring party had full time jobs to return to in Australia.

The cricket pitch was vandalised as a protest against the 20-year sentence of George Davis, a 34-year-old London minicab driver charged with armed robbery. The fourth Test at The Oval was drawn and Ian Chappell’s side retained the urn eventually.