12 Things That Changed The Face Of Cricket!

Cricket is a game that has provided us with as many twists and turns as a Sidney Sheldon mystery! Everyday heroes are born, everyday villains are created and everyday the game of cricket changes. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, the game has gone through some drastic changes in recent times. It has made us cry, it has made us laugh and it has made us scream in disgust. Some of the things on this list will make you reminisce, others will anger you, while some will bring a tear to your eye as you realize how cricket changed!

1. A Legend Is Sullied

First on the list has to be the story of the “one” Hansie Cronje. Cronje was known to be a true gentleman, one of the finest workers and thinkers of the game, an incredible leader and an incredible human being. He became captain at the young age of 26 and is still one of the most successful captains in the history of the game. Unfortunately in 2000 he was accused of match fixing. A claim that he vehemently denied in the beginning but his conscience got the better of him. Cronje confessed and was banned for life. The incident sent shock waves throughout the world of cricket. The presence of match fixing was never in question but its prevalence hadn’t yet been truly realized. When a man of the stature of Hansie Cronje succumbed to the pressures of the bookies, authorities knew that something had to be done. Cronje died in 2002 under a cloud of mystery as an airplane he was in, crashed without cause. It is still believed that Cronje’s admission of guilt and his promise to bring down the match-fixing ring was the reason for his death. What really happened, we will never know.

2. Pakistan Trio Jailed For Match Fixing

A sting operation by the now defunct “News of the World” tapped into the underbelly of the match-fixing ring and laid out its trap. What fell in, brought the game of cricket to a standstill. Three Pakistani Cricketers including the Captain, Salman Butt, a Sultan of Swing, Muhammad Asif and Pakistan’s brightest star on the horizon, Muhammad Amir, were all caught red handed with their hands in the cookie jar. All three were found guilty and banned. It is the single most embarrassing and shameful thing to have happened to Pakistan cricket. Salman Butt, the ring leader, was banned for 10 years, Asif for 7 and Amir for 5. Of all three, only Amir showed any real shame and willingness to change and needs to be commended for that.

3. Gilchrist Walks

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The 2003 World Cup is remembered for many things. Australia lifting the trophy for a third time, the capitulation of Pakistan in the Group stages and ofcourse Gilchrist walking. What seems now to be something which is expected of every batsmen was anything but in those days. It was the semi-finals against Sri Lanka and De-Silva was bowling. A sweep shot produced a feather touch off the glove followed by an appeal by the Lankans. Rudi Koertzen was unmoved. Gilchrist waited and waited and then walked. A media frenzy was created and the great man’s integrity became the talk of town. Players like Sangakarra, De Villiers and many more walk on a regular basis now, but it was Gilchrist who led the way!

4. The Original Master Blaster

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World Cup 1996. Sri Lanka walked in with a game plan. The game plan was to utilize the first 15 overs with field restrictions in play to try and get as many runs on the board as quickly as possible. Up stepped Sanath Jaysuria. The left-hander revolutionized cricket. Till then 230 was a par score, 250 very good and 270 insurmountable. He smashed bowlers to all parts of the ground as 300 became the norm. His 88 against England in the Quarter Finals is still remembered to this day. The World Cup belonged to Sri Lanka, Ranatunga was the commander, De-Silva was the architect but Jaysuria was the battering ram!

5. The Birth Of One Day Cricket

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One day cricket has been around for a long-time. It was much better received than the longer version as more fans tuned in, but cricket was still not getting the traction it deserved. Than a concept was introduced. Some geniuses decided, lets put color into the mix! The color kits were born and introduced. There was no turning back after that as cricket grew from strength to strength. It was in the 1992 World Cup that colored kits made their mark! Turned out to be great omens for the team that won it in the end!

6. Underarm Bowling

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Cricket has always been associated with the refined and educated sportsman of the world. While there have been many cricketers who excelled with street smarts, this overriding belief has always remained. Many rules that are in place today weren’t there before. Cricketers were expected to be gentlemen, so what could go wrong? In 1981 Australia were facing New Zealand in an ODI at the MCG. NZ needed 6 runs to win off the last ball. Greg Chappell, the Australian captain, decided to ask his younger brother, Ian Chappell, to bowl an underarm delivery to kill off any chances of the six being scored. This was legal at the time and caused an uproar. The delivery was immediately banned after the game as it was deemed “not within the spirit of the game”. Try telling that to the Chappells!

7. A Mysterious Death

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18th March 2007, Pakistan had been humiliated by World Cup debutantes Ireland and eliminated from the tournament. A few hours later news broke that Pakistan Head Coach, Bob Woolmer was dead. Due to the nature of the defeat and the suddenness of the death, people lost their heads. Accusations were flung about as match fixing was mentioned. A detailed investigation was launched and it was discovered that the death was natural. Pakistan had lost a father figure, a great human and a great friend. Bob will always be remembered for what he gave Pakistan!

8. IPL Controversies

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The IPL came about with as much fanfare as any other Bollywood “masala” affair in the last decade or so. It had the Bollywood stars, the dancers, the music and the lights. When cricket and showbiz combined, it was like opening the pandora’s box. What followed was Bollywood star wars, cricketers making other cricketers cry by slapping them on live TV, crazy stories of after match parties, match fixing and much more. Keep tuned folks. The party is just getting started!

9. Death of Phillip Hughes

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On November 28, 2014, during a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG, Phil Hughes strode out to the center with just one thing in mind. With the World Cup just a few months away, all he wanted was to score enough runs to warrant a call-up. Sean Abbott bowled a bouncer that hit the left-hander on the head. He collapsed immediately and was rushed to the hospital. 2 days later he succumbed to the injury and died. The World of Cricket was in shock. It was the first time in modern day cricket that a cricketer died because of what happened on the field. Everyone was affected as heartfelt messages of support and love poured in from around the world. RIP Phillip Hughes, cricket is just not the same without you.

10. Who’s A Monkey?

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While racism has run rampant in every sport known to mankind, cricket due to it being a gentleman’s game had never had any problems of such nature. That is until 2008 when an Indian, of all the people, Harbhajan Singh called Andrew Symonds of Australia, a “monkey”. The rivalry between Australia and India was at fever pitch during those times and the incident caused a media uproar. Harbhajan refused to back down, while the Aboriginal Symonds was livid. Harbhajan was banned for 3 matches but the issue was far from over. Symonds was taunted with the chant across India when Australia toured and it finally came to a head when 4 fans were arrested for racial abuse. Indians racially abusing Australians, that makes for one helluva story!

11. Shane Warne

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Shane Warne was the enigma. The greatest spinner to ever live, the Australian though always had a penchant for trouble. He was briefly involved in match-fixing and fined in the 90s. Later his infamous spat with Arjuna Ranatunga when he made fun of his rotund figure by saying the Ranatunga had swallowed a sheep, was fun for everyone. Warne was also banned for a year for taking illegal substances just before the 2003 World Cup. His private life was always in the public eye as his womanizing broke up his marriage and had him caught on camera in underwear with a couple of models. All these things aside, Warne picked up 708 Test Wickets and Bowled the Ball of the Century. Shane Warne was the enigma!

12. Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Team Leaves 6 Injured 8 Dead

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2009 was the last time a Test Match was played in Pakistan. Sri Lanka had sent its team to help the Pakistanis out in their time of need. On March 3, the team was traveling to the Gaddafi Stadium in their team bus when all hell broke loose. Terrorists attacked the bus. It was the first time in history that a Sports team was targeted like this. Six, I repeat, six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured and the driver of the bus was killed. Thankfully, all of them survived. It was a stark warning to everyone that terrorism was real and it could strike anytime anywhere!