Act of cowardice or mockery of the Game in the modern era - Underarm Bowling

Underarm bowling, which had its origin along with the origin of the game itself, became virtually extinct after the First World War. This is due to the evolution of other popular bowling actions like the roundarm (remember,Lasith Malinga? ;-) ) or the more conventional overarm actions, as time passed by. But, there are a few instances in modern day cricket where the bowlers still bowled underarm to register some form of protest. Not surprisingly, both the notable instances of Underarm bowling in modern day cricket involve the Australians. The first one defines Cowardice, whereas the other is an absolute mockery of the laws of the game.

The Reason for all the Hue and Cry

This happened at the MCG, in the third final of the Benson & Hedges Cup between the trans-tasmanian rivals on February 1,1981. Australia had won the first two matches and needed to win this to ensure that they lift the trophy without needing to play any more extra games. Greg Chappell, perhaps the most infamous of all the Indian Cricket team coaches, was the skipper of Australia at that time. As the kiwis needed 6 off the final delivery to tie the match with Brian McKechnie on strike, Greg ordered the bowler, his brother Trevor, to bowl an underarm delivery, which was not against the laws of the game until that particular match. Australia won the game, but were booed off the field by spectators. The New Zealand batsmen walked off in disgust, McKechnie throwing his bat to the ground in frustration. It was perhaps the ugliest scene one could have ever witnessed on a cricket field.

While many cricket followers would know about the ugly incident which happened on the 1st of February, 1981, and its aftermaths, which include the scrapping of the underarm bowling as a legal method of bowling in cricket, not many may know that this feat (!) was repeated by another Australian in an official International match.

Birth of Twenty-20 Internationals- Not so Auspicious

It was the 17th of February in the year 2005. It was all set for the first ever official International match in the newest format of cricket, the Twenty-20 to be held at Auckland between the trans-tasmanian rivals, Australia taking on the Kiwis. Australia batted first and riding on skipper Ponting's superb unbeaten 55-ball 98, they ended up at an imposing total of 214 for the loss of five wickets at the end of their twenty overs. The Kiwis were having a monumental task ahead, to chase down 215. It proved too much for them, as they needed 45 off the final delivery bowled by Glenn McGrath to Kyle Mills. Everyone would have expected the Pigeon, one of the most feared bowlers of all time, to get a wicket of his counterpart in the Kiwi line-up. Instead, he made a total mockery of the game's laws by rolling the ball down the ground, bowling Underarm. The most freakish of umpires, Billy Bowden handed out a Soccer-like red card to McGrath and the match ended thus in a very, very unpopular manner. It was not so much of an Auspicious beginning for the T20s in the International arena.