The ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test is one of the most shocking moments in Australia’s cricketing history. Australia captain Steve Smith lost his position after admitting to planning with senior players to alter the condition of the ball using an abrasive tape.
As the cricket world tries to understand the implications of Smith and Australia’s actions, here we take a look at other disgraceful incidents in Australia’s cricketing history.
WAUGH-WARNE BOOKIE DEAL
Waugh and Warne at a press conference in 1998 admitting their dealing with a bookie.
Mark Waugh and Shane Warne were fined $8,000 and $10,000 respectively by the Australian board for taking money from an illegal bookmaker to provide information on pitch and weather in 1994 in exchange for money. The Australian board tried to cover up the incident as the two players had appeared as witnesses during the match-fixing hearing of Pakistan batsman Salim Malik that year. However, Australia’s veteran reporter Malcolm Conn stumbled upon the story at a bar in Brisbane nearly four years later.
UNDERARM BOWLING
In one of the most unsporting acts seen on a cricket field, Australia captain Greg Chappell asked his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of an ODI in Melbourne against New Zealand underarm with the Kiwis needing six runs to tie the match. At that time, underarm bowling wasn’t illegal. However, as a result of the incident underarm bowling was banned by the ICC.
WARNER’S PUNCH
David Warner was stood down from Australia’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand after “an unprovoked physical attack” on England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in 2013. That incident came one month after Warner was fined for an expletive-laden attack on two Australian journalists on Twitter. Warner was this year caught on camera almost coming to blows with South Africa keeper Quinton de Kock over alleged remarks about his wife during the Durban Test.
SMITH’S BRAIN FADE
Australia’s Steve Smith has faced questions over deliberate undermining of rules of the game previously as well. During the 2016 Bengaluru Test in India, Smith asked for assistance from the dressing room over his lbw decision. Smith said it was a ‘brain fade’ while India captain Virat Kohli insisted Australia had done so previously.
LILLEE’S KICK
In the Perth test of 1981, Pakistan captain Javed Miandad tucked pacer Dennis Lillee for a single and while attempting a run there was some contact between the players. Heated words were exchanged and Lillee then kicked Miandad on his shin after which the batsman charged at the bowler with a raised bat. The umpire stood between the two to avoid an altercation.
