 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
What is sport without a few spats between opposition players?
These fights and incidents, at the time, draw a lot of flak from fans, experts and former players. But over the years, they become a part of pub conversations and turn into urban legends.
Cricket, despite being called, 'A Gentleman's Game' has seen its fair share of unruly incidents -- the most recent being teammates Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja clashing on the pitch in a match against the West Indies.
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
The most notorious incident had to be in 2003 when West Indies were playing Australia at Port of Spain. Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indian batsman, was giving the Aussies a tough time.
Glenn McGrath, Australia's best fast bowler and chief sledger, exchanged angry words with Sarwan. Players and umpires had to intervene before things took a nasty turn.
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
During the 1995 tour to Australia, Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga managed to rile the Aussies a lot.
During an ODI, Ranatunga got cramps and called for a runner. Ian Healy, the Australian wicket-keeper, made a comment which was heard on the stump microphone: "You don't get a runner for being an overweight, fat and unfit c**t".
Ranatunga got upset and a verbal spat with Healy ensued. He instructed his team not to shake hands with Aussies after the match.
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
One of Steve Waugh's career-defining moments was a double hundred in Jamaica, against West Indies.
West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose was giving cold stares to Waugh, every time he beat the outside edge of the bat. Waugh finally lost his cool and told Ambrose, "what the f**k are you staring at?".
Ambrose lost his cool and charged towards Waugh before his captain Richie Richardson had to pull him away, before things turned ugly.
Waugh in his autobiography mentioned how Ambrose was ready to erupt. He wrote, "fortunately, Richardson moved in swiftly to avert what could have been my death by strangulation, and the game continued.
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
In 2008, when India were playing Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar kept enticing Virender Sehwag to play a hook shot.
Sehwag got irritated and asked Akhtar whether he was bowling or begging on the streets.
The most infamous spats on the cricket field
The best one-liner, however, was delivered by Fred Trueman.
In a county match, he managed to get an edge from the batsman which went between Raman Subba Row's legs, who was fielding at slip.
At the end of the over, Row ran over to Trueman and said:"Sorry Fred, I should've kept my legs closed". Trueman replied with: "So should your mother".
