With all the controversy of the Ball Tampering involving Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, and most of a nation calling the heads of Smith, Warner, and to a lesser degree Bancroft, it is a great time to have our weekly theme week based on the most recent great cricket scandal.
The controversy has captured the nation’s attention, with everyone from regular news channels to social media warriors to Prime Minister having a say about the crimes, most are not very complimentary of the Australian Cricketers. Do people expect more from Australia’s least likable national sporting team behind the Wallabies?
Is the latest controversy the worst sporting crime ever? Why not let our International Remember A Great Cricket Scandal Week list of past achievements allow us to rank the best of the best, and truly determine whether Steve Smith and co. should be hog-tied nude to a catapult and fired into Moreton and or Port Philip Bay.
So before we let the mob loose with pitch forks and rolled up copies of the Courier Mail, finally finding a decent use for one, let’s have a look at our International Remember A Great Cricket Scandal Week hit list.
SHAHID AFRIDI BITES THE BALL
Certainly less subtle than the latest Australian Ball Tampering scandal, but that’s how Afridi rolled. The man who once scored a One Day International century in 34 balls well before T20 was the game’s cash cow and second most watchable product, and treated every ball like it was his last, lived life fast and on the edge.
His biting the ball though was not one of his better innings.
SHAHID AFRIDI DANCES ON PITCH
Not picking on Afridi, as he was one of our favourite cricketers of all time, but his little dance on the pitch was another great moments worth celebrating for International Remember A Great Cricket Scandal Week.
In context, Afridi used a nearby bombing that had halted the game and distracted everyone to do his little dance.
PAKISTANI SPOT FIXING SEES CRICKET’s LARGEST EVER NO BALLS
Rounding off a nice Pakistani Cricket Scandal trifecta is the spot fixing issue from 2010. Led to bans, the no balls could have been a little more subtle. Which seems to be the key so far with these Cricket scandals.
HANSIE CRONJE MATCH FIXING
Cricket’s biggest scandal involved the former South African captain, and fixing some ODIs. He suffered the shame of it all until his tragic death in a plane crash not long after. He had a point though, most ODI cricket outside the World Cup is pretty useless, so why not make a little bit of money on the side.
UNDERARM BALL
Possibly the greatest Cricket Scandal of Australian cricket history, and an eerie similarity to the current scandal. Captain is the mastermind of the scenario, younger player called on for the deed, younger player Trevor Chappell forever tarnished as the one who rolled the ball along the pitch. Hopefully for Cameron Bancroft the same will not apply.
AN ALUMINIUM BAT
Why use wood when you can use metal. Well, not for long as Dennis Lillee found out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pak_0L3rhc
JOHN HOWARD’s BALL OF THE CENTURY
Enjoy
CHANNEL NEIN TAKING THE BIG BASH RIGHTS
Hasn’t happened yet, hopefully won’t. But will be a scandal if they do get the rights.
