10 most controversial cricketers of all time

The world of Cricket was shaken by one of the worst controversies in its history last week as the Australian Cricket Team were found tampering with the ball during the 3rd Test match against South Africa in Durban. With the Australian Skipper, Steven Smith and the relatively fresher, Cameron Bancroft accepting the charges alleged against them, it was the first time since 2000 that players have themselves come out and accepted their crimes in front of the media.

Along with vice-captain David Warner, who is now being touted as the mastermind behind this crime, Smith and Bancroft have been suspended by Cricket Australia for 12 and 9 months respectively in what can be regarded as the darkest day in the history of Australian Cricket in a long, long time

However, this was not the first time when players have been involved in serious controversies. Over the years, there have been certain players - known as the 'Bad Boys' - who have been involved in controversies that have not only tarnished their reputations but have had a long-term impact on their careers. We take a brief look at 10 such cricketers whose careers were marred by controversies and scandals.

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#10 David Warner (Australia)

The Bad Boy of Australian Cricket

What better way to start with the man who is now being termed as the architect of the whole 'Sand Paper Gate' scandal - Mr. David Warner himself. One of the best cricketers in the world across all the formats, the fierce Australian has never shied away from doing what he wants and has often paid the price for getting involved in controversies and brawls.

Famous for this thuggish and bullish behaviour, Warner has often invited the wrath of former players with Martin Crowe even going as far as asking for a red card and yellow card system for players like him. His infamous bar brawl with Joe Root in England during the 2013 Champions Trophy is still fresh in the memories of fans when he was removed from the Australian Champions Trophy squad.

However, his career reached a new low during their away tour to South Africa. Warner was involved in a confrontation with Quinton De Kock during tea of the first test and was fined 75% of his match fee by the ICC. To make the matters worse, he was a part of the now infamous ball-tampering scandal which has brought an end to his dream of leading the national side in the future.

#9 Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa)

More popular for his antics off the field.

One of the best batsmen in the history of South African Cricket, Herschelle Gibbs was rock solid and proficient at the top of the batting order. However, he was equally proficient at getting involved in controversies and was often in the headlines for his wrong deeds more often than his impressive game on the field.

Gibbs' history of controversies dates back to the beginning of the 21st century when he was involved in the most infamous match-fixing scandal in the history of cricket in 2000. Approached by Bookies and then-captain Hansie Cronje to book a match, he accepted money to score less than 20 in that match. Although he later went on to score 74, he was suspended for 6 months and refused to visit India for the next 6 years due to the fear of getting arrested by the police.

In 2001, he was fined by CSA, along with various other teammates, for smoking marijuana during their tour to the West Indies. Despite being a cape coloured himself, Gibbs was accused of racial comments directed towards Pakistani players and fans and received a ban of three games - one in each of the three formats of the game.

#8 Salman Butt (Pakistan)

The Captain that made a deal with the bookies

Unlike most of the players on this list, whose careers were marred by a number of controversies, Salman Butt was involved in only one controversy in his career - a controversy so big that it brought an end to his cricketing career.

One of the best players for Pakistan in both ODI and Test cricket, Salman Butt's career as a cricketer came to an abrupt end just in his second series as the captain of the national team in a controversy that jolted world cricket.

During the fourth test against England at Lords, Butt, along with pacers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, was accused of giving information regarding certain portions of the match to the bookmakers in exchange for a heavy sum of money. After a sting operation proved the allegations against them true, all the three players were banned by the ICC, with Butt, being the captain receiving the longest term of 10 years.

After criminal allegations against them were also proved true, Butt was given an imprisonment of 30 months in London. This was the first time when an incumbent captain of an international cricket team was sent to a jail as International cricket witnessed its worst scandal in over a decade.

#7 Marlon Samuels (West Indies)

The most controversial member of the Windies team

Despite being famous for their tall structure and fiery attitude, the West Indian players are generally counted among the nicest players to have ever graced the cricketing field. Marlon Samuels, however, belongs to that small list of players from the Caribbeans that have been part of serious controversies and scandals throughout their careers.

Regarded as one of the best batsmen in the team in the post-Lara-Chanderpaul era, Samuels was first involved in a controversy when he was accused, by the Indian Police, of giving away vital match and pitch information to the bookies.With the Indian police releasing a transcript of his conversation with a bookie, Samuels was suspended by the ICC for a period of two years in 2008. He has also been involved in a rather juvenile feud with Ben Stokes, with the two often seen giving away remarks against the other.

However, none of his controversies can compare to his on-field spat with Shane Warne in the 2013 BBL. After he tried to stop David Hussey from taking another run by pulling his shirt, Samuels was verbally and physically attacked by Warne while he was batting. An infuriated Warne threw a ball at Samuels, who retaliated by hurling his bat in the air in anger. Samuels was suspended for the whole tournament afterwards in what can be regarded as the worst moment in BBL history.

#6 S. Sreesanth (India)

India's most controversial player ever

No player in the history of Indian cricket has been involved in more controversies than what one Shanthakumaran Sreesanth did in his cricketing career. Once India's premier fast bowler in both ODI and Test cricket, Sreesanth's antics both off and on the field not only cost him a place in the international squad but also led to the demise of his cricketing career.

Famous for his flamboyant and over the top behaviour, Sreesanth first invited controversy during India's 2006 tour of South Africa, where he was fined by ICC for his actions against Andre Nel and Hashim Amla. He was again fined half of his match fees in 2007 for intentionally shoulder barging Michael Vaughan during a test match.

However, the controversy that Sreesanth is infamously remembered for ended his entire cricketing career. In 2013, Sreesanth, along with two other Rajasthan Royals' players were arrested by Delhi police on the charges of fixing IPL matches. After the fast bowler accepted the crimes against him, Sreesanth, along with teammate Ankeet Chavan, was banned by BCCI for life in the biggest match-fixing scandal in the history of Indian Cricket since 2000.

#5 Andrew Symonds (Australia)

Controversial both on and off the field

If there was one guy in the history of the Australian Team that could give David Warner a run for his money when it comes to getting involved in controversies, that guy is, without any doubt, Andrew Symonds. The original bad boy of the Australian Cricket Team, Symonds extraordinary record on the field was perfectly complimented by his rather controversial record off the field.

In August 2008, Symonds was sent home by the team skipping the team meeting while he was out fishing. Symonds was asked to reconsider his desire to play and was dropped from the squad for the tour of India. Just a year later, Symonds was again sent home from England in the middle of the ICC Twenty 20 World Cup, this time due to some alcohol-related incident, in what later turned out to be his last outing for the baggy greens as his contract was terminated by Cricket Australia.

However, he was at his worst during his infamous interview with comedians Roy & HG, where, in an intoxicated state, he called Brendon McCullum a 'lump of sh*t' and indirectly expressed his infatuation towards Matthew Hayden's wife. He was later charged by CA for breaking the code of conduct and deemed unfit for selection until he had completely rehabilitated.

#4 Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan)

The Rawalpindi Express

Inarguably the fastest bowler to have ever graced a cricket field, Shoaib Akhtar wrecked havoc during his early days in International Cricket. So aggressive and ferocious was Akhtar that batsmen used to fear to face him while he was bowling against them.

However, his sky-rocketing success during his early years was soon followed by a long period of controversies which kept him out of the squad for a long period of time.

In 2003, Akhtar was accused and later banned for ball-tampering during the Triangular Series in Sri Lanka. Less than a year later, Akhtar again received a 3 match ban - 1 Test and 2 ODIs - for allegedly abusing Paul Adams and was later sent home during the 2005 tour of Australia for indiscipline and attitude commitments and was out of the team for a better part of the year.

In 2006, Pakistan cricket was shaken by a huge Drug Scandal and Akhtar, along with Mohammad Asif, was the prime suspect in that scandal, with both found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs. Akhtar was handed a two-year suspension but was later acquitted on appeal. He was also accused of hitting teammate Asif with a bat during the 2007 T20I World Cup and was banned for 5 matches. After breaking the Code of Conduct in 2008, Akhtar once again faced a suspension of 5 years but was acquitted just a year later.

#3 Shane Warne (Australia)

Famous for his mischievous antics

Inarguably the greatest spinner in the history of cricket, Shane Warne managed to carve a legacy, during his illustrious career, that can never be matched by any other bowler. However, if he was a magician with the ball on the field, he was equally mischievous, if not more, off the field. Famous for his flamboyant lifestyle and his drinking habits, Warne was often surrounded by controversies throughout his career.

Warne, along with teammate Mark Waugh, was fined by Cricket Australia in 1995 for accepting money from bookies in exchange for vital pitch and weather conditions during a match. In 1999, Warne openly expressed the animosity between him and Arjuna Ranatunga and was given a 2-match ban by the ICC just before the World Cup.

Warne's career, however, hit a new low in the year 2003. Right before the start of the 2003 World Cup, Warne was tested positive for a banned drug. He was immediately sent home by the team management and was later banned for 1 year from any form of cricket. In 2013, Warne was suspended from the entire season of BBL after he verbally and physically attacked Marlon Samuels during a league match.

#2 Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)

Pakistan's Bad Boy

There was a time around 2006 when Mohammad Asif was one of the most promising cricketers in the world. Fast forward to 2010, and the man was easily the most hated person in the whole cricketing world. Famous for his impressive line and lengths as well as his ability to swing the ball in either direction, Asif was on course to becoming the greatest bowlers in Pakistan's history, which sadly never became reality due to the controversies that he got himself involved into.

Along with fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, Asif was the centre of focus of the infamous drug-scandal that jolted Pakistan Cricket in 2006. Accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to improve their bowling speed, Asif was banned by the PCB for one full year from any type of organised cricket. In 2008, Asif was tested positive for steroids during the inaugural IPL and was subsequently suspended for the next season.

However, none of his controversies even come close to the infamous match-fixing scandal from 2010. Asif, along with fellow bowler Mohammad Amir, were found guilty of taking money from the bookies and fixing matches by bowling huge no-balls during the course of the match. The duo, along with captain Salman Butt, were suspended by ICC for terms of between 5 and 10 years. The trio was also imprisoned by London police, with Asif given 1 year of imprisonment.

#1 Jesse Ryder (New Zealand)

A career destroyed due to controversies

Jesse Ryder is the best example of a player, whose international cricketing career ended due to his everlasting controversies. In fact, no player has been involved in more controversies in the history of cricket than him due to his prolonged drinking habits and his indiscipline life-style. Once regarded as the future of New Zealand cricket, Ryder lost his place in the national side and is regarded as greatest 'what-if' career in the history of New Zealand Cricket.

Ryder first invited controversy when he got appeased in a late night drinking session in 2009, missed the team meeting next morning and failed to talk part in the practice session. After a series of indiscipline allegations, Ryder decided to take an indefinite break from cricket in 2012 to focus on improving his on-field habits. In 2013, however, Ryder was attacked by 4 men outside a bar in Christchurch after some provoking remarks and was put into a medically induced coma for some time.

Following his inclusion in the side for a test against India, Ryder was involved in another alcohol-related incident, where he was seen partying along with Jimmy Neesham and Doug Bracewell on two different occasions. With the team management livid with his behaviour, Ryder was again dropped from the national team and has never made it to side ever since.