6 on-field unsporting acts by the Australian cricket team

Ever since Trevor Chappell infamously bowled the underarm delivery at the behest of his brother, Greg Chappell, which denied New Zealand a well-deserved victory in 1981, ‘play with passion, play hard and play with pride’ has been the motto of the Australian Cricket team.Over the years, Australia leapfrogged from one triumph to another, comprehensively ruling the last decade and half with their talent, spirit and competitiveness. However, the indomitable streak of going all out for a victory, even if that entails unfair methods, has, more often than not, divided the cricket loving public, who would rather cringe at the mannerisms of a team than applaud the finest feats achieved.Defining ugliness in a new light, the Kangaroos have taken cricket to a level where the desire to win expresses itself in the form of aggression and getting under the skin of the opposition with words and gestures. As the glares transcend to unnecessary banter and the enthusiasm converts to a rough cockiness, the Australian team have managed to set a new standard for a boorish arrogance, a path rather not treaded upon by the other nations.Defending their tasks day in and day out are members of this team who give the “excitement, passion and adrenalin” theory, which makes the average fan wonder whether they are the only set of players who play with “excitement, passion and adrenalin.” What about teams like South Africa and New Zealand, who refrain from such explicit provocations, yet manage to make a mark with their competitiveness?A champion is not always the one who takes home the top prize, which makes us question the tag given to the Australian Cricket team. The best? Definitely. But true champions? A rhetorical question indeed.Following the controversial dismissal of Englishman Ben Stokes against Australia last week, where he was adjudged out obstructing the field, with critics suggesting that he was only defending himself after bowler Mitchell Starc threw the ball back at him, networking sites have been abuzz with the unsporting character shown by the Men in Yellow, especially captain Steve Smith, who many believed, should have called back the batsman.Here are 6 instances in recent history when the Australian team left us stunned at the unsporting deeds they had to offer during a cricket match.

#6 Slater wrongly claims a catch and sledges Rahul Dravid, Australia vs India, 2001

Michael Slater remonstrates with Rahul Dravid in the 2001 Test

Australian batsman Michael Slater was involved in an ugly, unnecessary confrontation with Rahul Dravid, a player who epitomises humility in the game even today.

During the first innings of the first Test match of the historic Australia-India series in 2001, Dravid mistimed a pull shot into the hands of Slater, who was confident that the catch was taken cleanly.

Replays however suggested that the ball had fallen inches short of the fielder’s hands.

As the third umpire flashed the green light, Slater hurled a mouthful of words at the hapless Dravid.

What did the Indian do to attract the unceremonious words, one wonders?

#5 The Australian team shoves aside BCCI President Pawar during the Presentation Ceremony, Champions Trophy 2006

Sharad Pawar also felt the brunt of the rudeness of the Australian team

The Australian cricket team were embroiled in yet another unsavoury incident after their Champions Trophy triumph in Mumbai in 2006.

After having defeated West Indies by eight wickets to clinch their first ever title, an irritant Ricky Ponting gestured impatiently towards Sharad Pawar, the BCCI President, to hand him the trophy after what had been a lengthy presentation ceremony.

If this untoward reaction from the captain was not enough, fellow countrymen Damien Martyn pushed the BCCI honcho away, just moments after he had handed the trophy to the victorious team.

Terming the bunch as “uncivilised”, Pawar found support from Sachin Tendulkar, who was clearly disappointed with the attitude shown by the World Champions.

Often considered brash and arrogant on the field, the Aussies proved that they had miles to go before they can be called polite off it as well.

#4 Michael Clarke wrongly claims Ganguly\'s catch, India vs Australia 2008

‘Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game’ – Anil Kumble

The 2007-08 tour of the Indian Cricket team to Australia was defined by a vociferous aggression and contentious dismissals, which threatened to hamper the cricketing relationships between the two countries.

Trailing 0-1 in the four match Test series, India became the victim of a number of umpiring blunders and an unsporting spirit in the second Test match in Sydney, which only questioned the tag of cricket as a gentleman’s game.

Despite six decisions going against the Anil Kumble led team, India showed grit and determination to push the match onto the fifth day, only to lose wickets in a heap, folding up with seven deliveries remaining.

A historic record-equalling sixteen consecutive Test wins was marred by Kumble’s statement, whereby he stated, “only one team was playing in the spirit of the game”, referring primarily to Sourav Ganguly’s dismissal in the second innings of the match.

After Michael Clarke wrongly claimed a low catch- replays suggested that the ball had touched the ground before ending in Clarke’s hands- Ponting emphatically raised a finger towards umpire Mark Bensen to suggest that the catch was a fair one. Bensen, who did not bother checking with his on-field umpire or the TV umpire, was quick to follow Ponting’s word and shockingly ruled Ganguly out, as the cricketing world gasped at the Australians in disbelief.

#3 Haddin knocking off the bails and pretending it to be a fair dismissal, Australia vs New Zealand 2009

Notorious Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was caught in the midst of “cheating” claims way back in 2009 after it emerged that the gloveman had deliberately knocked the bails off in a bowled dismissal in Perth.

During the first ODI between Tasmanian rivals Australia and New Zealand, Kiwi batsman Neil Broom, who stitched together a crucial 42 run partnership with Ross Taylor while chasing Australia’s 181, appeared to have been clean bowled by Michael Clarke, until replays suggested otherwise.

In a clear departure from the cricket Laws, Haddin’s gloves were in front of the stumps, which knocked off the bails just as Clarke’s delivery headed over the wickets. Instead of resulting in a no ball, the batsman was asked to walk back to the pavilion after neither on-field umpire succeeded in spotting Haddin’s movements.

Even though New Zealand won the match, this incident left a sour taste with Daniel Vettori terming the act as “disappointing.”

Defending Haddin was Australia captain Ricky Ponting who stated, “I am sure Haddin did not know because if he knew then he wouldn’t have claimed it.”

Erm, coming from Ponting, these words sounded ironical, one must say!

#2 Sending back du Plessis to the crease with a \"woof\", Australia vs South Africa 2014

Faf du Plessis being given a send-off by the Australian team

A series between two tough competitors, South Africa and Australia, was replete with unnecessary showdowns and confrontations, which ended with the Australian team barking and woofing at South African T20 captain Faf du Plessis after his dismissal in the 3rd Test match at Cape Town in 2014.

Having accused AB de Villiers of ball tampering early on in the series, a statement that led to David Warner docking up a fine, the Aussies went on to commit a similar offence, which earned them the warning of the on-field umpires. Brad Haddin constantly allowed the ball to bounce on the pitch before taking returns from the fielders, which, allegedly, helped the ball lose some of its shine. It resulted in Clarke’s team receiving an unofficial warning for interfering with the cricket ball.

So much for pointing fingers at the Proteas early on in the series!

Were the Australian team acting like champions when they unnecessarily sledged de Villiers and Graeme Smith, long considered the pioneers of modern cricket?

Did Clarke’s train of expletives directed towards the world’s best bowler Dale Steyn, while he was batting at the non-strikers end, after Vernon Philander’s dismissal had been overturned, highlight the psyche of the Australian mind where the moralities of the game were no longer to be considered?

Worse still, were the Aussies behaving like a “pack of dogs”, as Plessis later claimed they were, after the South African had picked the ball and passed it over to the bowler on Day 3? Mock howling the batsman and woofing at him as he was walking back to the pavilion essayed a behaviour that bordered on bullying, far from the dignity that had once defined cricket.

#1 Australia vs New Zealand, World Cup Final 2015

Vettori was given a mouthful after his dismissal by Mitchell Johnson

The 2015 World Cup capped off with a final that pitted the two hosts, Australia and New Zealand, at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The two teams, defined by a stark approach with which they played their cricket, brought forward their contrasting values in what was a lop-sided final.

With both Australia captain Michael Clarke and New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori playing their last ODI games, the stage was set for a grand send-off for two premium cricketers.

Although Australia clinched yet another World Championship crown, their not so heroic acts on the field, which even saw Brad Haddin clap his gloves in Martin Guptill’s face after the latter was dismissed, left a blot that marred a well-deserved win.

As Clarke walked back to the pavilion after his final ODI knock, the Kiwi players went up to him, shook hands and congratulated him on a fine career. Contrast this to Vettori’s dismissal, who was given a mouthful as he walked back for the last time. The mindset was appalling, to say the least.

The sight of Kiwi batsman Grant Elliot consoling a dejected fallen opponent Dale Steyn after the semi final shattered all allegations of cricket having lost its humane qualities as it progressed towards being a competitive profession.

Not wanting to diminish their achievements, New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum, who set the standard of sportsmanship during the event, refused to comment at the antics adopted by Australia but it once again proved that apart from a breed of gentlemen who still exist, cricket largely consists of a set of individuals for whom winning is the sole objective.