The Underarm Bowling Incident: Cricket's Most Unsportsmanlike Moment
The story of the infamous 1981 underarm bowling incident when Australia bowled the final ball underarm to prevent New Zealand from winning — and its lasting impact on cricket.
On 1 February 1981, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, New Zealand needed six runs off the final ball to tie a one-day international against Australia. What happened next became one of cricket's most notorious and debated incidents: Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl the final delivery underarm along the ground, making it virtually impossible for New Zealand's Brian McKechnie to score the required six runs.
The Incident in Detail
The game was the final of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup. New Zealand needed six runs off the last ball — an extremely unlikely but not impossible target. Rather than bowl a legitimate delivery, Greg Chappell instructed Trevor to bowl the ball rolling along the pitch, preventing McKechnie from lifting it. McKechnie block the ball and disgustedly threw his bat away. The crowd booed loudly, and the controversy immediately spread around the world, with widespread condemnation from players, commentators, and politicians.
The Reaction
The response was extraordinary in its scope. New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon called the act 'the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket.' Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser expressed his own disapproval. Players from both countries criticised the decision. Even Greg Chappell later admitted it was a mistake, acknowledging the pressure of the moment had led him to make a decision he regretted for decades afterward.
The Rule Change
The underarm incident led directly to a change in the laws of cricket prohibiting underarm deliveries in international limited-overs matches unless both captains agree in advance, which in practice means they are effectively banned. The incident has since become a byword in cricket for unsportsmanlike behaviour and the importance of upholding the spirit of the game even when victory is at stake. It remains one of the most frequently cited examples in discussions about cricket's ethics and values.
Frequently asked questions
Was underarm bowling legal in 1981?
Yes, underarm bowling was technically legal under the Laws of Cricket at the time of the famous 1981 incident. Following the controversy, cricket's authorities amended the rules to effectively prohibit underarm deliveries in limited-overs international cricket.
Who ordered the underarm ball to be bowled in 1981?
Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl the final ball of the match underarm, rolling it along the ground to prevent New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie from scoring the six runs needed to tie the match.