Internet Desk: The India vs Australia Test series has been historically presenting some epic controversies. Starting from Sunil Gavaskar’s historic walk-out in 1981 to Steve Smith’s DRS call yesterday, there has always been something spicy about this contest. Here goes some examples of the controversial rivalry between the two power houses of world cricket:
1981, Melbourne- Gavaskar’s historic walkout: The incident had happened when Gavaskar was batting on 70. Dennis Lillee bowled a low-shooting off-cutter that trapped him in front of the wicket. Umpire Rex Whitehead raised his finger very fast. An angry Gavaskar stood his ground, arms outstretched, pleading that ball had hit bat en route to pad. Lillee racing down the pitch and pointing in exaggerated contradiction at the master batsman’s pad didn’t exactly lighten his mood. Gavaskar headed off shaking his head, but after 30 meters or so succumbed to his fury, retreated, grabbed batting partner Chetan Chauhan and marched in the direction of the players’ gate.
2001, Sourav Ganguly vs Steve Waugh controversy during the toss: The toss incident is the folklore with the former World Cup winning Australian captain criticising the iconic left-hander for deliberately delaying the proceedings. The two former skippers had a strained relationship during the historic series with Ganguly’s turning up late during India’s home series being the lowest point. In his autobiography, ‘Out Of My Comfort Zone’, Waugh has criticised Ganguly dubbing him ‘elitist’ saying he was ‘wound up’ by the former Indian captain’s ‘continued petulance’ in being late for the toss and then walking off.
2008, Harbhajan Singh vs Andrew Symonds, the epic “Monkey Gate” episode: The incident began when Symonds batted in the first innings, he was wrongly given not out three times, twice by Bucknor. He went on to score an unbeaten 162. On the third afternoon Harbhajan, batting with Sachin Tendulkar, edged a Brett Lee snorter over the slips for four. Harbhajan patted Lee’s backside with his bat saying, “Hard luck.” Symonds found this unacceptable and decided to intervene. The stump microphone recorded his voice saying, “We don’t need it, do it to your teammates.” During the exchanges the Australian thought Harbhajan had used the word “monkey” yet again. Symonds’ voice once again rings through on the stump microphone recording, “You called me monkey again. You don’t know what you’ve said.” He was then joined by Matthew Hayden whose voice can be made out, “Twice, you’ve got a witness now, champ.”
2017, The DRS controversy involving Aussie captain Steve Smith: The tussle between Indian captain Virat Kohli and the Australian skipper Steve Smith came out again when Smith tried to know from the dressing room for a DRS call after he was given out. In the second innings of the Bengaluru Test during the 21st over of the Australian innings, Smith was trapped LBW by Indian pacer Umesh Yadav. Having already lost a DRS call for David Warner, the Australians were in two minds on whether to take another review for Smith. Smith first turned to the non-striker’s end to seek an opinion and sparks flew when the umpires noticed that the batsman had turned towards the dressing room as well. They immediately intervened to stop Smith but matters came to a head when Kohli too joined in to speak to the officials.