13 Cricketers who didn't have spotless career- Even stars have scars

13 Cricketers who didn’t have spotless career- Even stars have scars: In the beautiful journey of life there is nothing is perfect. The lives of cricketers is no exception. Cricket has been glorified by the rich legacy of some meticulous players who have taken the standards of the game to a sky-high level. These players had an illustrious cricketing journey but yet the grey shades of controversies haunted them sometime or the other. There were times when these so-called glittering stars of the game couldn’t keep themselves away from attracting detractor’s for their mistakes. Even after their memorable time on the field with all their prodigal skills which etched successful career’s for them they didn’t have a spotless career. Let’s have a glance at the 13 Cricketers who didn’t have spotless career- Even stars have scars: 1. Rahul Dravid (India): Don’t get surprised folks. Although Rahul Sharad Dravid was regarded as one of the most humble cricketers on the field of cricket and was called a Gentleman throughout his 16 year-long cricketing journey but yet he didn’t enjoy a spotless career. In a ODI match against Zimbabwe in 2003/04 VB series at Brisbane, Dravid was captured by the TV cameras rubbing a cough lozenge on the shiny side of the white ball. Subsequently, he was fined 50% of his match fee as he was found guilty of ball-tampering. Also Read – Top 5 Most controversial cricket umpires ever 2. Vivian Richards (West Indies): Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Vivian Richards had a swagger in his persona and apart from his greatness as a legendary batsman, he came to limelight for other than cricketing reasons as well. During 1989/90 England tour of West Indies, the English media would take on Richards’ and the West Indian was never known for taking the back step. He reportedly threatened the Daily Express reporter, James Lawton who tried to have a chat with him, Richards was quoted saying, “You write anything bad about me and I’ll come and whack you. A lot of crap is being written about me and it is time someone was sorted out. I’ll start with you.” 3. Ian Botham (England): Sir Ian Botham. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The name Ian Botham, gets us resounding images of his invincibles in Ashes 1981. But the charismatic English great was always found in the middle of controversies. From Sex scandals to drug controversies he had more on his CV than just cricketing things. Once he had sparked a major controversy when he made insane comments on Pakistan. In 1983, Botham had to fly back home from Pakistan during the Test Series between Pakistan and England. He had referred Pakistan to “The kind of place to send your mother-in-law for a month, all expenses paid.” He eventually had to apologize for it. 4. Javed Miandad (Pakistan): Javed Miandad. (© Patrick Eagar/Getty Images) Javed Miandad is renowned as one of the greatest Pakistani batsmen. Apart from his geniuses with the bat Javed was also known for his imprudent behaviour which often landed him into lot’s of controversies. There was a time when Javed Miandad and Imran Khan were both at the peaks of their game but yet they had a very strained relationship. He was also involved in what is described by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack as “one of the most undignified incidents in Test history.” We are talking about famous Lillee-Miandad fight in which Lillee had provoked Miandad up to an extent that he was ready to hit him with his bat. 5. Kevin Pietersen (England): Kevin Pietersen. (© LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) Is there even a single doubt about the impeccable abilities of KP as a batsman? Certainly not and it has never been the case. But it has been the romantic love relation of Pietersen with controversies that has even denied him a place in the side these days. In 2012, the KP Textgate saga had haunted the English cricket. Pietersen had sent some text messages to the South African players criticizing Strauss and even giving them information on how to get him out. Similarly, in his Autobiography he had slammed former English coach Andy Flower as well as many England players. 6. Shane Warne (Australia): Shane Warne. (© Getty Images) The Australian spin wizard Shane Warne was a magician with the ball. But he was as lively off the field as well and was always marred by controversies. From accepting money from a bookmaker for giving information about pitch and weather conditions to being found guilty of using banned substances prior to the World Cup 2003, to his name getting involved in as many as three sex scandals, Shane Warne was the king of controversies. In 2011 IPL, he was spotted kissing his girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley on the field while during BBL 2013 Warne was punished for making inappropriate physical contact with Marlon Samuels. 7. Dennis Lillee (Australia): Denis Lillee. (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of the fiercest Aussie pacers; Dennis Lillee’s name was enough to shiver the hell out any batsman. But he was a very controversial figure as well which characterized his game. Lillee was involved in two of the cricket’s ugliest controversies. In 1981, he was involved in a controversial incident in which India’s Test skipper Sunil Gavaskar was about to forfeit a Test. While in the same year, he got involved in a disgraceful fight with Javed Miandad which got him banned for two matches. 8. Douglas Jardine (England): Jardine was one of the greatest English skippers in Test cricket. But Douglas Jardine was better known as the mastermind behind the Bodyline series in 1932/33 which is considered as the biggest blot on the Gentleman’s game. The Bodyline theory was to prevent Don Bradman from scoring runs and in this theory the English bowlers targeted the batsmen towards the body, on the line of the leg stump. The Ashes 1932/33 made Douglas a villainous figure among many cricket fans. 9. Greg Chappell (Australia): Greg Chappell. (© Getty Images) The former Aussie skipper Greg Chappell was a majestic batter for his country and hammered in excess of 7,000 Test runs with his average reaching the mark of 53.86 But Greg was the one who instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to deliver a underarm ball in the 1981 ODI match against New Zealand so as to prevent the Kiwi side from hitting a six on the final ball and tie the match, which earned him a lot of criticism from all the quarters. He also had a stressed time as the coach of the Indian national team. 10. Glenn McGrath (Australia): Glenn McGrath. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Glenn Donald McGrath is considered to be one of the greatest pacers in the cricket history with 949 international wickets to his credit. His immaculate line and lengths were always a difficult proposition for any batter. But Glenn was also regarded as a classical sledger in the Aussie side. But during 2003 West Indies v Australia Test, his banter turned into an ugly fight. He had questioned Sarwan “What does Brian Lara’s d**k taste like? To which, Sarwan replied: “Why don’t you ask your wife?” And then with his fingers pointing at Sarwan, and in the heat of the moment Mcgrath blasted “If you ever mention my wife again, I’ll f*****g rip your f*****g throat out”. Later, McGrath had apologized for the outburst and regrets his mistake. 11. Mohammad Azharuddin (India): Mohammad Azharuddin. (© Getty Images) Mohammad Azharuddin was known as the Hyderabadi magician whose magnificent wristy flicks were a class apart. His career came to an end on 99 Tests, when he was just one Test match away from representing his nation in 100 Tests. Azharuddin was occupied in a cricket match-fixing scandal in 2000, and was subsequently found guilty. He was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for life. But on 8 November 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted the ban as it found it to be unsustainable. 12. Hansie Cronje (South Africa): Hansie Cronje. (Photo Source: Laurence Griffiths / AllSport UK Ltd) The former South African skipper Hansie Cronje is epitomized as one of the greatest Protea skippers of all time. But the match-fixing scandal caused a premature end to his international career. In 2000, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) imposed a life ban on Hansie Cronje for his involvement in match-fixing. In 2002, Cronje passed away aged 32 as the plane in which he was travelling crashed into mountains. Cronje had scored 9,279 international runs. 13. Sunil Gavaskar (India): Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The Indian batting legend Sunil Manohar Gavaskar with his superlative batting technique and godsend powers of concentration emerged as one of the best openers in Test cricket of all time. His moment of controversy came in 1981 Australia v India series, he was adjudged out by the umpire for leg before the wicket but Gavaskar was convinced that the ball had taken the inside-edge of his bat which he indicated to umpire while the bowler Dennis Lillee angered him by pointing towards his pads. On his way back to pavilion he was abused by some Australian player due to which Sunil decided to walk off towards pavilion with fellow opener Chetan Chauhan though he was stopped by the Indian team manager in between. Later, the little master regretted his mistake. Also Read – 14 Shameful incidents that disgraced the game of cricket

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13 Cricketers who didn't have spotless career- Even stars have scars

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