5 biggest controversies in India-England history

Image result for lala amarnath
Amarnath(right) had a forgettable tour to England in 1936

Ever since they first played one another in 1932, the 86-year-old cricketing history between India and England has seen several ups and downs with players bringing their emotions to the fore.

Controversies, especially from the turn of this century, has been almost a constant whenever these two teams have taken to the field and on occasions, have bought the best out of players in both those sides.

Here is a look at five of the biggest controversies in India-England cricket history:


When Lala Amarnath was sent back home from England

The 1936 tour of England by India was perhaps the last time they went overseas still being ruled by Britishers. Right from the onset, it seemed like trouble was brewing in the camp with Vijananda Gajapathi Raju, also known as Vizzy, finding a way to lead the side on the tour over several other players and then involving himself in a field placement controversy with Amarnath in a side-game against Middlesex.

The all-rounder battled his way through a nagging backache, playing most of the matches with it and putting in vital contributions. Later on the tour, in a match against the Minor Counties, Amarnath was set to walk out to bat at Number 4 as and when a wicket fell, but eventually came out Number 7 and was clearly unamused by the decision when stumps were called that evening, hurling abuses on the way back to the hut.

The treasurer of the side- SM Hadi- raised the matter with the management and once the game ended, Amarnath was asked to leave the touring party, without playing a single Test match on that tour.

The incident caused a stir back home and for safety reasons, he had to be retained at the Taj Mahal in Bombay. Once the tour of England was done and dusted, Vizzy was removed from his position as the captain of the side.

When Nasser Hussain's 'negative' tactics deceived Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar was stumped for the first time in his career by Ashley Giles
Tendulkar was stumped for the first time in his career by Ashley Giles

With India leading the three-match series 1-0 heading into the final match at Bengaluru, England captain Nasser Hussain realised the only way to beat India would be to get the better of main man Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored a hundred in the previous game at Ahmedabad.

He devised a plan which would have the cricketing world talking when he asked Ashley Giles to come over the wicket and bowl outside the leg-stump. The ploy left Tendulkar frustrated over a period of time as he could not find a way to keep the runs flowing and eventually he was stumped while attempting an inside-out shot, a first in his career.

When England used the jelly beans tactic and it backfired

Jelly beans became a scene of controversy in the Trent Bridge test of 2007
Jelly beans became a scene of controversy in the Trent Bridge test of 2007

During the second Test of India's tour to England in 2007, the visitors found themselves in a commanding position with the bat when Zaheer Khan walked out to bat.

The right-hander was trying to take his position in the middle when he observed a jelly bean placed too close to him. Sensing an attempt from the opposition to disrupt his focus. As he played out a few balls, he found more coming his way and reacted angrily in the direction of Kevin Pietersen waving his bat all over sensing that it was he who was behind it.

The incident certainly fired up the left-arm seamer, who ran in and bowled one of the best spells of his career to claim figures of 5 for 75 and pave the way for India's first win on English soil in five years.

When Ian Bell was recalled by MS Dhoni and his side

Bell was left flummoxed with the whole incident
Bell was left flummoxed with the whole incident

At the stroke of tea, Eoin Morgan played a ball towards the square leg fence and after it appeared that it was four runs despite a despairing dive from Praveen Kumar. Morgan walked to the middle of the wicket to punch his gloves with Ian Bell when the throw came in from Kumar and with Bell out of his ground, Abhinav Mukund dislodged the bails, leaving Bell and the rest confused.

At the interval, England coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss walked into the Indian dressing room to find more and Dhoni decided to overturn the decision and allowed Bell to continue batting after the break.

He, eventually, won the ICC Spirit of Cricket award for this gesture.

The James Anderson-Ravindra Jadeja saga: Who really was the culprit?

Jadeja and Anderson will hope to stay away from controversy this time
Jadeja and Anderson will hope to stay away from controversy this
time

For a third successive tour, Trent Bridge was in the centre of controversy when it was alleged that James Anderson had pushed Ravindra Jadeja in the corridors of the Nottingham dressing room and used abusive language against him.

However, with no audio facility available, there was no clarity as to what was exactly told with Anderson stating it was nothing heated and also denied having pushed Jadeja in the corridors of the dressing room.

Eventually, after a lot of drama, the fast bowler was found not guilty while Jadeja was fined half of his match fee by the referee.

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