Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm bowling
This is one of the most disgraceful incidents ever to have occurred in cricketing history. As much as the Australians talk about playing hard and tough cricket, on this day February 1, 1981, they actually showed the true colours of their cricketing spirit.
When New Zealand required 7 runs to win off the last ball, with two wickets in hand; the then, Australian captain Greg Chappell literally panicked and asked his brother and fast bowler, Trevor Chappell, to roll the ball underarm to prevent the Kiwi batsman Brian McKechnie to hit a six to tie the match.
The umpires allowed Trevor Chappell to bowl an underarm ball when he and Greg Chappel asked for their permission since it was not mentioned that it was compulsory to bowl overarm in the Australian World Series Benson and Hedges Cup rule book.
Even Australian cricket’s legendary figure Richie Benaud once said, “One of the worst things I have ever seen in Cricket.”