10. The Underarm Incident
This was the third final of the 1981 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup. New Zealand, who had been set 236 to win, needed 15 runs from the last over. Having lost two wickets in the over, New Zealand needed a six off the last ball to tie the match and keep the series at 1-1. Greg Chappell, the Australian captain, ordered his younger brother Trevor to bowl an underarm delivery for the last ball, to prevent New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie from scoring the six runs needed. Trevor Chappell protested, believing that it wasn’t in the spirit of the game. He bowled the delivery, Australia won the game and the teams walked off to booing and jeering. Bowling underarm was legal within the Benson & Hedges rule book, but it was not considered sportsmanlike. The decision brought criticism from all sides.