10 Controversial Gestures in World Cricket

Cricket is expected to be a game filled with honour and dignity, and for the vast majority of the time, it is.

However, there are have been controversial instances, with players losing their rags, often in reaction to an event that has happened on or off the field.

On the anniversary of West Indian Denesh Ramdin having his say to Sir Viv Richards three years ago, here are 10 such gestures.

1. Nasser Hussain to the Media (2002)

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England captain Nasser Hussain was usually on good terms with the cricket media, and in 2002, he came in for some harsh criticism at his decision to remain at three in the batting order.

In the final of the triangular series against India, Hussain went on to reach his first ever ODI century, and he responded defiantly in his celebration.

He turned to the assembled media in the press box, stuck three fingers in the air and pointed to the number on his back—also the No. 3.

It was a clear indication that Hussain believed he was worth his place at that position and in the team, especially as he delivered the goods under intense pressure.

2. Ricky Ponting vs. Aleem Dar (2010)

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Australia were taking a hiding in the Ashes against England in the 2010-11 season, and frustrations boiled over for Baggy Green captain Ricky Ponting in Melbourne.

Ponting was incensed after a referral showed that Kevin Pietersen had not hit the ball on a caught-behind decision and set about telling umpire Aleem Dat just how upset he was.

It went on for several minutes in one of the uglier recent incidents on the field and led to Ponting being fined 40 percent of his match fee.

3. Arjuna Ranatunga Takes Sri Lanka off the Field (1999)

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Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing in the 1998-99 season when England played Sri Lanka in Adelaide, and what followed was an ugly incident.

Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga led his side from the field in protest, a decision that resulted in a delay to the game of over 10 minutes.

There were then lengthy and heated discussions between Ranatunga, umpire Ross Emerson and other officials, with the Sri Lanka captain fined and suspended for his conduct.

4. Inzamam-ul-Haq Takes Pakistan Players off at The Oval (2006)

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In another instance of a captain leading his players off the field, Inzamam-ul-Haq did the same in 2006 at The Oval as Pakistan faced England.

The away side were accused of ball-tampering and docked five penalty runs, a decision that incensed their captain and caused him to keep his side off the field at tea.

They ended up forfeiting the match, and it cast a shadow over the rest of the tour.

5. Denesh Ramdin to Viv Richards (2012)

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He had performed poorly in recent games with the bat, but upon reaching his century against England in 2012 at Edgbaston, Denesh Ramdin had a message for Viv Richards.

He held up a piece of paper that he had been carrying in his pocket saying, “Yea Viv, Talk Nah,” a response to the West Indies great’s criticism of his batting.

Ramdin went on to suggest he regretted his actions, but it was certainly an unsavoury incident.

6. Mike Gatting vs. Shakoor Rana (1987)

Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana became engaged in one of the most unseemly incidents in the game’s history in 1987 in Faisalabad.

Rana accused the then-England captain of moving fielders as the bowler was running to deliver the next ball, something Gatting took exception to.

The sight of them engaged in an argument, jabbing fingers at each other, resulted in a day being lost as Gatting refused to apologise.

7. Steve Waugh vs. Curtly Ambrose

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On the surface, it was two proud and uncompromising cricketers refusing to back down, but it was an incredibly unsporting gesture that saw Curtly Ambrose and Steve Waugh square off.

It was 1995 in Trinidad, and Waugh was compiling a dogged 63 not out on a tough pitch when he was eyeballed by Ambrose after he delivered a ball.

In typical fashion, Waugh refused to step away and was reported to ask Ambrose what he was looking at, albeit in slightly less polite terms.

Ambrose had to be physically restrained, and he revealed in his autobiography that at one stage he wanted to assault Waugh.

8. Hansie Cronje’s Offer to England (1999)

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It perhaps seemed too good to be true at the time, and it turned out to be, and even when he made his offer to England in 1999, Hansie Cronje’s move was viewed as against the spirit of the game.

In a game ruined by rain at Centurion, Cronje offered for his South African side and their English opponents to forfeit an innings each and have England chase a total.

It was derided at the time as being contrary to the spirit of the game, but in time, it was revealed to hide much deeper implications—Cronje’s involvement in match-fixing.

9. Michael Atherton’s Dirt in the Pocket (1994)

Michael Atherton was caught on camera taking an unnamed substance out of his pocket and applying it to the ball in the 1994 Test between England and South Africa.

It immediately caused uproar and led to an investigation, with Atherton accused of tampering with the ball and almost resigning the captaincy.

10. Trevor Chappell Bowls Underarm (1981)

It was one of the most controversial incidents in cricketing history: In 1981, Australia captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl a delivery underarm.

Against New Zealand in Melbourne, the Australians needed to prevent their opponents scoring six off the last ball to tie, an improbable feat given tail-enders Brian McKechnie was on strike.

However, the Chappells did not want to take any chances, and Trevor bowled the last ball of the game underarm to the fury of many watching.

It prompted an immediate rule-change and came to define Trevor Chappell’s career for all the wrong reasons.