The introduction of T20 leagues across the world has lowered animosity between sides. Players from different countries interact with each other. They are able to understand diverse cultures owing to this environment. But it wasn’t this easy earlier.
There was a lot of bad blood between the sides. It almost always spilled onto the field. There were a lot of other elements that came to the fore. All of these resulted in verbal exchanges, poor officiations, and hostility.
We look at 4 most controversial Test series of the 21st Century:
#4 England vs Pakistan, 2006
There was a lot of hype preceding this 4-match Test series. England proved too good for visiting team, Pakistan in the first three Tests of the series. They had an unassailable winning lead of 2-0 after the first three Tests. Pakistan though fought admirably in the final Test of the series. They had taken a commanding lead of 331 runs.
England had to bat out of their skins to make a match out of it. But transpired later left everyone shocked. Umpire Darrell Hair accused the Pakistani team of ball-tampering. He awarded five penalty runs to the English side. Pakistan protested the decision but to no avail. They refused to step into the field post Tea. The umpires awarded the game to England on account of forfeiting the game.
#3 Australia vs India, 2020-21
It was the first major series in the post-pandemic era. The series had all the makings of a blockbuster. India was bundled out for 36 in their second innings at Adelaide in the first Test. Cricket experts had predicted a whitewash. India was without their skipper, Virat Kohli for the next three Tests. But India to everyone’s surprise came back strongly. They won at Melbourne and defied the odds at Sydney. In midst of all this, a section of the Sydney crowd racially abused Mohammad Siraj.
Few members of the Indian team were accused of a bio-bubble breach. The series was in jeopardy. It all resulted owing to India’s defiance. India then went ahead to do the unimaginable. They defeated Australia at Gabba, Brisbane. It was a defeat that rankled Aussie media and experts all over the world. The strength of India’s bench found its first feet in this series.
#2 South Africa vs Australia, 2018
South Africa and Australia have shared an interesting history. It all came out in this ill-fought series. The first Test saw a heated altercation between Quinton De Kock and David Warner. In the second Test, Kagiso Rabada was suspended for brushing shoulders with Steve Smith.
There was simmering tension. It reached the boiling point in the third Test when Supersport cameras caught Australian player, Cameron Bancroft with sandpaper. The Australians had used sandpaper to tamper with the ball. Steve Smith (captain), David Warner (vice-captain), and Cameron Bancroft were suspended. It’s a series that is remembered for all the wrong reasons.
#1 Australia vs India, 2007-08
In what can easily be termed the most controversial series of all time, Australia and India locked horns. The series had a lot riding on it. India was the surprising winner of the T20 World Cup. Their financial clout over the game was on a major upswing. Australia it seemed was wary about India’s rise both on and off the field.
The tension was palpable. Australia coasted to a comfortable win in the first Test. India struck back strongly in the second Test. Australia was in a spot of bother at 134-6. It was here where all hell broke loose. Andrew Symonds was given not-out on multiple occasions. The Aussies went on to pile up 463 runs. India in response posted 523 runs. Australia staged a counterattack to set up a fourth innings target.
India in the fourth innings again was at the receiving end of umpiring howlers. Australia won the Test in the second last over of the fifth day. Indian captain, Anil Kumble stated only one team played in the spirit of cricket. The Aussies accused Harbhajan Singh of racism. It came to be known as the monkey gate scandal. Cricket between the two sides was never the same again.
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