Flashback - 5 Biggest Cricket Controversies Of 2017

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 Monkey gate scandal between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh in 2007, there hasn’t been any dearth of disputes surrounding the game.

* Mark Stoneman

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.

* 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.

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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.