The history of rivalry between India and Australia has been intense right from the time the two sides first locked horns. From the first-ever Mankad to Australian spectators getting expelled for hurling abuses at Indian cricketers, the series between the two sides has always had controversial talking points involving the Aussies.
As India gear up to take on Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November, let’s take a look at some of the most ugliest controversies involving the Aussies.
1. Monkeygate scandal
The Monkeygate scandal involving Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh is synonymous with the word controversial. The incident, which took place in the Sydney Test in 2007-08, saw the Indian being banned for three games for allegedly calling Symonds a ‘monkey’ during a heated exchange.
The BCCI then appealed against the ban and Harbhajan was successfully acquitted. It came to light years later that Harbhajan had never uttered the words to Symonds, with Sachin (who batted with him then) providing alibi.
2. ‘Homeworkgate’ ft 4 suspended Aussies
Australia went on to suspend four players in between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2012-13. The reason? Four players did not give a list of three things that they would do to improve after losing the second Test. Those four players included Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Shane Watson.
Then Australia coach Mickey Arthur came under fire for suspending these four players and was eventually sacked after the series. The Australia media coined the term ‘homeworkgate’ to refer to Arthur’s school-like actions. Australia were whitewashed 0-4 in the series.
3. Steve Smith’s brain fade moment that angered Kohli
Aggression and Virat Kohli go hand in hand and one has learnt multiple times in the past to not mess with him. Steve Smith bore the brunt of the then Indian skipper during the BGT in 2017-18 after he attempted to conceal his brain fade moment.
Smith faced a delivery off Umesh Yadav went on to hit the pads and was given out. After having a word with the non-striker, he went on to look towards the dressing room to seek help, something that isn’t allowed.
An angry Virat Kohli intervened and had a word with the umpires following which Smith was asked to leave the field. While Smith admitted that it was a brain fade, the BCCI went on to lodge a complaint with the ICC but decided to withdraw it later.
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4. Indian bowlers give Aussies taste of own medicine
It was in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy that Virat Kohli unleashed the battery of furious Indian pacers on the Aussies. The hosts bore the brunt of the Indians in the second Test at Perth as they were subjected to a barrage of bouncers, something that they were only familiar with meting out and not being on the receiver’s end.
The game saw India bring out a never seen before approach with the pacers delivering constant blows to the body of the Aussies. Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch were the first victims after being hit on the helmet and finger respectively.
Finch was forced to retire hurt. The pace battery comprising of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah showed no mercy to the batters at all.
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