We take a look at several fights and verbal spats that have shocked cricketing fans– or perhaps entertained some — across the world.
1. Fight during a domestic game in Bermuda
Wicket keeper of Bermuda’s Cleveland County Cricket Club Jason Anderson struck Willow Cuts Cricket Club batsman George O’ Brien on his noggin as he was heading towards the other end of the pitch. Brien then had a swing of the bat at Anderson’s head. The openly exchanged blows and officials restrain the two players.
Anderson was banned by Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) from all cricketing activities whereas O’Brien was also suspended for six one day internationals.
2. When the two top Indian cricketers brawled
“Easy catch naheen pakar sakte yaar”, these were the words uttered by Indian pacer to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian wicket keeper and now the ODI captain of the Men-in-Blue, when he couldn’t take the edge flown of Shahid Afridi’s bat.
It’s not difficult to understand why Ashish Nehra has not been a part of the Indian side that much since Dhoni took the reins of the side.
3. Mike Gatting – Shakoor Rana controversy
On the second day of the test match between Pakistan and Faisalabad in 1987, the play was stopped after umpire Shakoor Rana claimed that Gatting was going against the laws of the game by moving his fielder during the time bowler was coming into bowl.
The player and the umpire exchanged heated words and Rana refused to umpire till Gatting apologized to him over his behavior and language which he did so. A whole day of cricket was lost and the match ended in a draw.
4. Glenn McGrath has a word with Ramnaresh Sarwan
In a test match between West Indies and Australia in 2003, Ramnaresh Sarwan reportedly taunted Glenn McGrath regarding his former wife Jan who was struggling with cancer. The pacer, furious by the comments, reportedly threatened the West-Indies batsman that he would rip his throat out if he mentioned her again. The two rendered apologized to each other afterwards.
Jane McGrath passed away due to cancer on 22nd June, 2008.
5. Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir spat
Pakistan and India have no love lost even in cricket and it became clear when Gautam Gambhir bumped into Shahid Afridi as he was taking a run and the two players had something to say to each other.
If you are good at lip-reading, there should be no problem in figuring out what the two are saying to each.
6. All time famous: Javed Miandad, Dennis Lillee nearly have a fight
Pakistan’s Javed Miandad and Australia’s Dennis Lillee had a bit of an altercation. The Australian legend bowler stood in way of the Pakistani batting great as he was taking a single. Things got out of control and the pacer kicked the batsman, who in return tried to hit him on his head with the bat.
7. Venkatesh Prasad gets the better of Amir Sohail
One of the most famous moments in Pak-India cricketing rivalry, this clash took place in the quarter final of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. Amir Sohail, hitting Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad for a sweet boundary towards the cover region, signaled the bowler as to where he hit him. Prasad managed to bowl him on the next ball and showed him the way to the locker room.
8. When Shane Warne lost his cool
Melbourne Stars’ skipper Shane Warne was furious at Marlon Samuels who tried to stop David Hussey from taking the second run by grabbing his shirt. The Australian great did the same and exchanged some heated words and the West Indies’ batsman threw away his bat in response.
9. James Anderson tells Mitchell Johnson ‘Keep Quiet’
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson taunted his English counterpart James Anderson at his run up of not getting wickets. The English pacer bowled Johnson’s campatriot Ryan Harris and gestured him to remain quiet.
After seeing players go at it against each other, sometimes players and fans have gotten into an altercation with each other as well. Former Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was reportedly abused by one of the spectators and he didn’t take it very well.
