11 angry men: The angriest cricketing XI of all time

Cricket, which is always promoted as gentlemen game, has not always been gentle if we retrospect its more-than-a-century history. There have been numerous instances where cricketers crossed their boundaries getting involved in altercations and fights on and off the field. Short-tempered, offensive and not the ones to take digs in right spirit, they separated the men from the gentlemen.

In this article, we are not going to discuss cricketers who were aggressive but stayed well within the spirit of the game. Also, we are not going talk about players who got involved in just one infamous incident.

Here is a list of imaginary playing XI, which has some of the greatest names in the cricketing history, who time and again had to deal with their temper related issues during their career.

---

#1 Gautam Gambhir

The Delhi-born opening batsman is always known to be a player who wears his heart on his sleeves. Gambhir was involved in multiple controversies during his illustrious cricketing career.

The southpaw had a heated argument with his Delhi coach, Bhaskar Pillai, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Bhubaneswar in 2017. He was handed a four-match suspension from first-class cricket for his rude behavior.

Gambhir was also involved in an infamous altercation with Virat Kohli during an IPL game between KKR and RCB in 2016 which raised too many eyebrows about the southpaw's temper issues.

The former Indian cricketer was also involved in a big fight with Shahid Afridi in 2007 during an ODI at Kanpur. The match referee Roshan Mahanama fined the Pakistani 95% of his match fee. Gambhir was also fined 65% of his fee for breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct.

#2 David Warner

Warner mocks Varun Aaron during India's 2014 tour of Australia

David Warner, who is currently serving a ban for his involvement in ball tampering issue, has been involved in more than eight on and off-field issues in his career. Warner's temper got the better of him in Twitter when he blasted Tasmanian fast bowler, Brett Geeves, with a tirade of tweets.

He was banned by Cricket Australia for allegedly punching Joe Root at a bar after a Champions Trophy match in 2013. He was also involved in on-field incidents with players like Thami Tsolekile, Jonathan Trot, Varun Aaron, and Quinton de Kock before got caught in the infamous sand-paper scandal.

#3 Virat Kohli

Kohli's temper issues haven't affected his batting performances

Virat Kohli and controversies are like hand in glove. His erratic behavior on and off the field garnered a lot of criticisms from all corners of the world. Though he has curbed down his anger off-late, he is still pocket dynamite that can explode any time.

The Indian captain showed his finger to the Syndey crowd when they kept on abusing him and the team during India's visit to Australia in 2012. Then, during India's practice session at Australia in 2015, the Indian captain unnecessarily shouted with abusive words at a journalist for writing about his relationship with Anushka Sharma.

He also got involved with Gautam Gambir on an ugly spat during the IPL game in 2016. His issues with Anil Kumble resulted in the Indian legend resigning from the post of Indian coach.

#4 Andrew Symonds

The Monkeygate scandal

Andrew Symonds was one of Australia's most important and controversial player in the 2000s. All the controversy for Symonds started in 2005 when he was dropped by Cricket Australia for his alcohol consumption before the match.

However, his involvement in the Monkeygate scandal with Harbhajan Singh started his downfall as a cricketer. He then went on to skip a team meeting for fishing, involved in a bar-tiff, abused New Zealand's Bredon McCullum on a radio Interview, attached a fan on the pitch.

His fall-out with his friend, Michael Clarke, was the final nail in his International career.

#5 Javed Miandad

Javed Miandad would have hit Lillee with his bat had umpires not intervened

Miandad, who is considered as one of the greatest batsmen Pakistan has ever produced, involved in quite a few controversial incidents during his career due to his hot-headed nature.

The legendary cricketer was involved in multiple on-field altercations with umpires. He abused an umpire after he was given out in an ODI game. He was also found arguing with an umpire when Aqib Javed's bouncer was called a no-ball by the umpire.

The most infamous incident happened against Australia when he threatened to hit Dennis Lilee with his bat after the Australian's fast bowler blocked him from taking a single. He also had a dispute with the Indian wicket-weeker Kiran More.

#6 Kieron Pollard

Pollard's incident with Mitchell Starc is one of the worst on-field controversies of IPL

Pollard has gained the reputation as one of the most controversial figures of Windies cricket. His bat throwing incident with Australia's Mitchell Starc during an IPL game in 2014 is still fresh in the mind of every cricket fan. Pollard was fined 75% of his match fee for crossing the line.

In an IPL match against RCB in 2015, he taped his mouth when umpires asked him not to distract Chris Gayle. The Trinidadian also got into a Twitter argument with the Indian commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, by misunderstanding his tweet.

#7 Kamran Akmal

Kamran Akmal involved in quite a few altercations with the Indian team

Kamran Akmal, the former wicket-keeper of the Pakistan Cricket team, had an infamous on-field face off with India's Gautam Gambir during an Asia Cup match in 2010.

He was involved in a major altercation with India's Ishant Sharma in a T20 match in 2012. Kamran misunderstood that Ishant used foul language against him during the 18th of Pakistan's batting. The issue grabbed the headlines because of the political tension between the two countries.

The wicket-keeper batsman stirred another controversy by blaming the captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Head Coach Mickey Arthur for showing bias in team selections.

#8 Ian Botham

Ian Botham vs. Ian Chappell: The 40-year-old-rivalry

Ian Botham, who is hailed as the greatest English all-rounder, is always known for his outspoken behavior.

Ian Botham got involved in multiple controversies on and off the field. However, his run-in with the Australian legend, Ian Chappell in 1977 is most of the most talked controversies then. The duo allegedly involved in a big altercation at a pub.

Botham claims he punched Chappell over his comments by saying " I gave him three official warnings. All of which he ignored, so the next time he started, I just flattened him.”

The legend was also involved in some altercations with fans on a flight journey.

#9 Harbhajan Singh

Harbajan's aggressive attitude has led to a lot of on-field controversies

The Turbanator's career has two prominent things: success and controversies. During his debut ODI when he was 17 years old, he engaged in a war-of-words with Ponting after dismissing him. He was slapped with a fine and banned for an ODI.

He was also reprimanded for his altercations with Greg Chappell. There are two incidents involving the Indian spinner the entire world will never forget. One is his infamous involvement in the Monkeygate scandal. The other one is his slap saga with Sreesanth.

#10 S Sreesanth

Sreesanth's anger issues ruined his career

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth came into limelight when he celebrated Sachin's wicket in the most fierce way possible during a domestic game. The aggressive fast bowler got caught in multiple on-field controversies throughout his career.

That dance against South Africa shows everyone who Sreesanth is. He got involved in altercations with the International stars like Andre Nel, Andrew Symonds, Ricky Pointing, Harbhajan Singh positioning him as the bad boy of world cricket.

His controversial career ended on a similar note after his alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing saga.

#11 Shoaib Akhtar

Akthar was sent back home after hitting Mohammed Asif with his bat in the dressing room

It is not easy to be an aggressive fast bowler and have a sober mentality. The Rawalpindi express is one of the most aggressive cricketers ever graced the cricket field. Shoaib, who was selected in the squad for the Sahara Cup in 1996, was sent back home after his disciplinary issues.

Shoaib involved in some on-field alterations with players like Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, and Rahul Dravid. His anger took control over him when he was provoked in the dressing room by his fellow Pakistan players right before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2017. He hit Mohammed Asif with his bat and was initially banned by PCB for five years. The ban was then reduced to one month.