The Best of 2017: 5 Biggest controversies that sparked during the year

Ever since the inception of cricket, controversies have been around on a regular basis. From the infamous Bodyline series in 1932, Trevor Chappell’s underarm delivery in 1981 to the Monkeygate scandal between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh in 2007, there hasn’t been any dearth of disputes surrounding the game.

2017 also had its fair share of controversies which went on to grab the headlines. Some of the prominent names in world cricket have been involved in the incidents. In our article, we take a look at five biggest controversies that marred the game in 2017.

#5 Mark Stoneman DRS review

The controversy sparked during the 3rd Test between England and Australia at the WACA in Perth. Mark Stoneman, the English opener, was looking solid for a big score. However, on the fifth ball of the 38th over, he perished to a vicious bouncer from Mitchell Starc.

Starc hurled in a short-pitched delivery which caught Stoneman off-guard. Subsequently, he seemed to have edged the ball that nestled into Tim Paine’s webbings. Steve Smith’s boys appealed vociferously, however, Marais Erasmus turned down the appeal.

Immediately, Smith took the Decision Review System (DRS). Replays were inconclusive as they showed a spike off Stoneman’s right-hand glove, which wasn’t in contact with the bat. However, Aleem Dar, the third umpire, overturned the on-field umpire’s decision, which irked Joe Root and the English camp.

#4 Moeen Ali controversial stumping

The incident occurred during England’s second innings of the first Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Having lost a flurry of wickets, England were staring down the barrel. Nevertheless, Moeen Ali played some delightful strokes to keep them in contention for a comeback.

However, in the second ball of the 54th over, Nathan Lyon ripped one past Ali’s outside-edge. Time Paine collected the ball, took the bails off in a flash and appealed for a possible stumping. Replays showed that Ali’s left-leg wasn’t grounded behind the popping crease.

Subsequently, he was given out. However, on looking closely afterwards, it was noticed that the popping crease was shoddily painted. The line had a bulge which didn’t allow Moeen’s feet to go over the crease and consequently, he was dismissed.

#3 Pollard no-ball in the CPL

A controversy unfolded during a round-robin between the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League. Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle went hell from leather from the outset and made a mockery of the target set by the Tridents.

Lewis was severe on the Tridents’ bowlers as he scored 97 off 32 balls, which included six fours and eleven colossal hits into the stands. The left-hander gradually moved towards his fourth century in Twenty20 cricket.

In the first ball of the eighth over, while the Patriots required one run to win, Lewis needed three runs to accomplish his ton. However, Kieron Pollard bowled a no-ball, which denied Lewis the century. Subsequently, Pollard attracted criticism from the cricketing fraternity for the seemingly deliberate act.

#2 Steve Smith Dressing-Room Review System

Steve Smith’s ‘brain fade’ incident during the second Test of Australia’s tour of India won’t fade away in a canter. During Australia’s run-chase, Steve Smith was wrapped on the pads by Umesh Yadav. Nigel Llong, the on-field umpire promptly raised his finger.

He consulted non-striker Peter Handscomb after which he looked at the dressing room for help. The umpire immediately spotted it and iterated Smith about the laws of the game. Llong also disallowed Smith from taking the DRS and asked him to leave the field.

SmThe Australian captain termed it a ‘brain fade’ apologised for the wrongdoing, however, received flak from the Indian team and the rest of the cricketing fraternity. Virat Kohli and Team India later informed Chris Broad, the match-referee, about the mishap.

#1 India vs Sri Lanka pollution saga

Pollution in New Delhi, the capital of India, has been a long-debated conundrum. The government has strained every muscle to churn out solutions to the long-lasting problem. During the third Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of India, the Islanders complained off an indifferent health.

Dinesh Chandimal explained to the on-field umpires about the gravity of the matter following which the game was halted a couple of times. Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal went off the field owing to an ill health. Subsequently, the Lankans fell short of eleven fit players.

It was all chaotic at the Feroz Shah Kotla as Ravi Shastri trotted on to the field to have a chat with the umpires. Meanwhile, an agitated Virat Kohli decided to declare their innings remarking that the Indians would be more than happy to field.