Test Cricket's Most Notorious Scandals
From Bodyline to Sandpapergate, a look back at cricket's most controversial moments.
As Australia prepares for its first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 "sandpapergate" scandal, BBC Sport revisits ten of the most significant controversies to have rocked the world of Test cricket. A panel has identified these incidents, and the public is being asked to rank them by their impact.
Bodyline
The 1932-33 Ashes series saw England captain Douglas Jardine employ a tactic known as Bodyline to counter the formidable batting of Australia's Donald Bradman. Fast bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce delivered hostile, short-pitched balls aimed at the Australian batsmen. This tactic was widely criticized as unsporting and against the spirit of cricket, escalating tensions between the teams and even creating a diplomatic incident. England ultimately won the series 4-1, but the controversy overshadowed the results.
The D'Oliveira Affair
In 1968, the scheduled England tour of South Africa, a nation then enforcing apartheid, became a major political issue with the potential inclusion of Basil D'Oliveira. D'Oliveira, a mixed-race player born in South Africa who had qualified to play for England, was initially left out of the squad but was called in as a replacement for an injured player. His inclusion sparked outrage in South Africa, leading to the cancellation of the tour. South Africa was subsequently banned from international cricket for two decades.
'George Davis is innocent'
During the 1975 Ashes series in England, the third Test at Headingley was abandoned due to vandalism of the pitch. Holes were dug, and oil was poured onto the playing surface by supporters of George Davis, who had been imprisoned for armed robbery. The phrase "George Davis is innocent" was found scrawled at the ground. The Test was declared a draw, resulting in Australia retaining the Ashes and preventing a series decider. Davis was later released, and his conviction was eventually overturned.
World Series Cricket
In the mid-1970s, Australian businessman Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket (WSC) to boost his television network's ratings. He recruited many of the world's top players, including England captain Tony Greig, creating a rival competition. This led to a schism in the sport, with many leading players opting for WSC over traditional international cricket. The 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons featured WSC matches, including "SuperTests." Ultimately, a truce was brokered between Packer and the cricket boards, and WSC innovations, such as colored clothing and day-night matches, were integrated into the sport.
Mike Gatting and Shakoor Rana
During England's 1987 tour of Pakistan, a dispute arose between England captain Mike Gatting and Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana. On the second day of the second Test, Rana stopped play to object to Gatting's field placements. The confrontation escalated, and the following day, Rana refused to officiate, leading to a suspension of play. The match eventually resumed, but the incident caused significant tension between the two cricketing nations.
Dirt in the pocket
In the 1994 Test match at Lord's between England and South Africa, England captain Michael Atherton was captured on camera rubbing dirt onto the ball. Atherton explained he was trying to maintain the ball's condition, not alter it, but his explanation to the match referee that he was using the dirt to dry his hands led to significant controversy and intense media scrutiny. Atherton considered resigning but was fined and remained captain.
Hansie Cronje
Former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was implicated in a match-fixing scandal involving Indian bookmakers. Cronje admitted to suggesting match alterations and influencing teammates. His most notable act was orchestrating the forfeiture of an innings in a rain-affected one-day international against England in 2000, forcing a result. Cronje confessed and was banned for life, later dying in a plane crash in 2002.
The forfeited Test
In 2006, during a Test match between England and Pakistan at The Oval, play was suspended after Pakistan refused to take the field following allegations of ball-tampering. Umpires Darrel Hair and Billy Doctrove awarded the match to England, making it the only Test in history to be forfeited. Although Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was later cleared of ball-tampering, the match result was a subject of much debate and legal wrangling for years.
Pakistan spot-fixing
A major scandal erupted in 2010 when a News of the World investigation revealed that Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir had deliberately bowled no-balls during a Test match against England at Lord's. The players were subsequently banned by the International Cricket Council and convicted of cheating and accepting corrupt payments, leading to prison sentences for Butt, Asif, and Amir.
Sandpapergate
During the 2018 Test series between Australia and South Africa, footage emerged of Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft attempting to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper. Captain Steve Smith and Bancroft admitted to the plan, which led to their suspension from international cricket. The scandal resulted in significant backlash in Australia, with Smith and vice-captain David Warner losing their positions, and coach Darren Lehmann resigning.
