New Delhi : Throughout the evolving history of cricket, the game has seen many controversies, some of the most interesting controversies have been over equipment, particularly the bat. Many such instances have been seen in cricket, when bats became the center of debate. From the broad bat of Thomas White to the black willow of Andre Russell, the evolution of the cricket bat has come under intense scrutiny over the years.
Here are some examples of controversial cricket bats that shook the cricket world.
Thomas White's Monster Bat
Even before international cricket came into existence, in 1771, Thomas White came up with an idea that changed the way cricket was played forever. During a match between Chertsey and Hambleton, White came out to bat with a bat so wide that it could cover the entire stump. White's intention was to stop every ball coming towards the stumps and save himself from being out.
However, his move was immediately opposed by the opposition players. With no rules governing the shape and size of bats that would prohibit such acts, White's stunt sparked discussion of major changes to the laws of cricket.
Dennis Lillee's Aluminum Bat (1979)
More than two centuries after White's controversial bat, Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee brought out another bat-related debate when he came out to bat with an aluminum bat during the first Test of the Ashes series in Perth on December 15, 1979. Gave birth. Just 12 days before this, he had used the same bat against West Indies without any complaint.
However, this time when Lillee played a shot off Ian Botham's ball which did not reach the boundary, Australian captain Greg Chappell intervened and asked Lillee to use the traditional bat, but the batsman refused. The situation worsened after England captain Mike Brearley complained about the damage caused to the ball by the aluminum bat.
Eventually, the Australian captain himself ran onto the field and handed Lillee a wooden bat, ending the altercation. Despite his frustration, which led to Lillee throwing the aluminum bat aside, the incident drew attention to the need for clear guidelines on the materials used in cricket bats.
Ricky Ponting's carbon graphite bat (2006)
Australia's greatest captain, Ricky Ponting, got involved in the bat controversy after scoring a double century against Pakistan. News of his using a bat with a thin strip of carbon graphite surfaced, which caused concern within the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The MCC believed that the strip provided extra power, giving Ponting an unfair advantage. After extensive review, the bat was deemed illegal, and the MCC banned it along with two other Kookaburra models – the Beast and the Genesis Hurricane.
The Mongoose Bat (2010)
In the 2010 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Australian opener Matthew Hayden surprised everyone after hitting a boundary with a bat named Mongoose. Playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in his first innings with the bat, Hayden scored 93 runs in just 43 balls against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Chris Gayle's Golden Bat (2015)
West Indies' legendary batsman Chris Gayle attracted the attention of the entire cricket world by coming on the field with his golden bat. Gayle made headlines during his short time at the crease while playing for the Melbourne Renegades during the Big Bash League (BBL), with a golden finish bat designed by Spartan, with fans and pundits raising concerns over the legality of the bat. , He guessed that it contained metal.
However, bat manufacturing company Spartan quickly dispelled these rumors saying that the gold coloring was purely aesthetic and complied with the rules of cricket.
Andre Russell's Black Bat (2016)
Not to be outdone by his fellow West Indies player, all-rounder Andre Russell went a step further in 2016 and batted with an attractive black bat in the BBL. There was a stir as soon as the bat was seen, mixed reactions started coming on social media.
While some praised Russell's courage, others questioned the legality of using such a bat in professional cricket. Due to the controversy regarding Russell's black bat, it was banned because there was a possibility of the bat causing damage to the ball. Still, it remains one of the most memorable moments of modern cricket.
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