Stuart Broad refused to walk off despite offering a clear edge to first slip

Top 5 controversies in Ashes history

The Ashes - cricket's most enduring rivalry, will resume on the morning of November 23 at the Gabba in Brisbane. Joe Root's England will have to show a lot of character if they wish to breach the home team's fortress of 'Gabbatoir' which is a ground where Australia haven't lost since 1988.

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Also Read: 5 great Ashes knocks which went in vain

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The 70th Ashes series will take place at five separate venues before reaching its conclusion on 8th January at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. The Ashes is a game of forbearance and gumption but it also has had its fair share of controversy. Here are five of the biggest controversies in the history of the Ashes.

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#5 When Broad stood his ground

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On the third day of the first Test in the 2013 series, Stuart Broad refused to walk out despite edging Ashton Agar's delivery to first slip.

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The lower-order batsman's edge settled into the hands of Australian skipper Michael Clarke at slip after rebounding off the thigh pad of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

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The visitors could have easily overturned umpire Aleem Dar's verdict with the use of technology. However, they had no reviews left after two failed attempts.

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At the time of the incident, Broad was not out on 37. He went on to add 28 runs as England secured a controversial victory by only 14 runs. Australian coach Darren Lehmann labelled Broad a 'blatant cheat'.

The incident raised questions on the spirit of cricket and whether batsmen should walk even as arguments began to tilt both ways.

#4 Lillee ready for 'ComBat'

Dennis Lillee had to part with his innovative bat when the umpires intervened
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Australian speedster Dennis Lillee took intimidation to a whole new level as he walked out to the crease with an aluminium bat in tow during the 1979 WACA Test.

During those days, there were no rules set forth to determine what a bat should be made from. Lillee, who walked into the crease wielding an aluminium blade called 'ComBat', faced four deliveries with the controversial bat before the umpires intervened.

Ian Botham and England captain Mike Brearley complained to the umpires about the annoying sound. Subsequently, Australia skipper Greg Chappell urged Lillie to use the conventional piece of willow. After much debate, Lillie relinquished and hurled the metal bat beyond the boundary to show his displeasure at the decision.

#3 Warner takes on Root

David Warner apologised to Joe Root after punching him in a bar
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From starting a war of words to landing punches, Australia vice-captain David Warner has done it all when it comes to the Ashes. Ahead of the upcoming series, Warner fired the opening shots by promising 'hatred' and 'war' toward the visitors. England captain Joe Root was quick to respond by saying that his team is not scared of hostile conditions.

Root and Warner go back a long way as far as sledging and mockery are concerned. Ahead of the 2013 Ashes, following Australia's Edgbaston defeat in the ICC Champions Trophy against hosts England, hot head Warner famously punched Root at the Walkabout bar in Birmingham and was consequently suspended for two warm-up games by Cricket Australia.

Also Read: Bar fight with Joe Root turned my career around, feels David Warner

It did not end there as Warner quipped that the tourists had 'scared eyes' during the first Test in Brisbane in the return series down under. The left-hander has since maintained that he had punched Root because he thought that the England batsman was ridiculing South Africa's Hashim Amla.

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#2 Vandals dig out the pitch

Captains Ian Chappell and Tony Greig inspect the pitch dug out by vandals
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On the final day of the third Test at Headingley in 1975, Australia needed 225 more runs to retain the Ashes and they had seven wickets remaining. But players and fans were robbed of a potential thriller due to an act of vandalism.

On the final morning, groundsman George Cawthray uncovered the pitch to discover that huge chunks had been dug out.

After further inspection, it was learned that some holes had been filled with oil. As a consequence, the match was abandoned. It was suggested that the match should be replayed but the touring party had full time jobs to return to in Australia.

The cricket pitch was vandalised as a protest against the 20-year sentence of George Davis, a 34-year-old London minicab driver charged with armed robbery. The fourth Test at The Oval was drawn and Ian Chappell’s side retained the urn eventually.

#1 The infamous 'Bodyline' episode

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The Bodyline incident tarnished the reputation of cricket being a gentleman's game

In its 135 years of history, the Bodyline episode remains the most controversial moment in the Ashes rivalry. During the 1932/33 series, the touring England captain Douglas Jardine was wary of Australia's exceptionally gifted and attacking batsman Donald Bradman who held a nonplussing batting average of 139.14 at that point in time.

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Jardine believed that Bradman would struggle against high-bouncing deliveries bowled into his chest. Therefore, he ordered his fast bowlers to target the Australian batsmen by bowling at their rib-cage. The tactic, which was labelled as 'Bodyline', became a highly questionable and dangerous strategy.

Extra Cover: Classic Ashes Series - Bodyline 1932-33

Bodyline, a name coined by the Australian press, implied placing of at least five fielders close to the batsman with the bowler continuiusly bowling short-pitched deliveries aimed at leg stump. These balls would quickly bounce up playing with the physical safety and lives of the batsmen.

Bradman missed the first Test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground amid speculation of a nervous breakdown. England won the series 4-1 and Bradman's batting average in the series came down to 56.

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Edited by
Ram Kumar
 
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