The Underarm Bowling Incident

The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup was a triangular tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand, and India during the 1980-81 summer. The competition was fiercely contested, with all three teams in contention for the finals. By the time the third ODI between Australia and New Zealand came around on February 1, 1981, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the stakes were high.

Australia were captained by Greg Chappell, one of the most technically gifted batsmen of his era but also one of cricket's most polarizing figures. His brothers Ian and Trevor were also in the side — making it a true family affair. The Chappells were known for their competitive ruthlessness, a trait that would be tested to its extreme on this fateful day.

The match was played in front of a large MCG crowd in the era before floodlights became standard for day-night cricket. New Zealand, led by Geoff Howarth, were always dangerous opponents against Australia — the trans-Tasman rivalry already had decades of intensity behind it.

Australia batted first and posted a competitive total of 235/4 in their 50 overs. New Zealand's chase ebbed and flowed throughout, with the Kiwis never quite out of the contest but always slightly behind the required rate. By the final over, bowled by Trevor Chappell, New Zealand needed 15 runs to win.

The over started dramatically. Trevor, a medium-pace bowler, conceded a few runs but also took a wicket. With one ball remaining, New Zealand needed six runs to tie the match. The batsman on strike was Brian McKechnie, a capable lower-order player who had been involved in several tense finishes. A six was improbable but not impossible — the MCG's boundaries were reachable, and McKechnie had the technique to clear the rope if the ball was in his arc.

It was at this point that Greg Chappell made the decision that would define his captaincy legacy forever. He walked over to his brother Trevor, and after a brief conversation, Trevor understood the instruction: bowl the last delivery underarm, rolling it along the ground.

With New Zealand needing 6 runs off the last ball, Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl the final delivery underarm, rolling it along the ground like a lawn bowl. This made it physically impossible for batsman Brian McKechnie to hit a six or even score the runs needed.

The umpires were consulted before the delivery. Crucially, underarm bowling was not explicitly illegal at the time — the Laws of Cricket did not prohibit it. The umpires confirmed the delivery was legal, and Trevor proceeded to roll the ball along the pitch. McKechnie, standing in disbelief, simply blocked the ball with his bat and then threw the bat away in absolute disgust.

The MCG crowd erupted in boos — directed at their own team. This was extraordinary. Australian crowds booing Australian players was almost unheard of, but the act was so transparently unsporting that even home fans couldn't stomach it. The booing continued for several minutes as the players left the field.

Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh was visibly furious on the field. He had walked up to Greg Chappell before the delivery and told him it was "a disgraceful thing to do." Ian Chappell, commentating on television at the time, was equally scathing about his brother's decision, reportedly saying it was "one of the worst things I have ever seen on a cricket field." When your own brother condemns you on national television, you know you've crossed a line.

Trevor Chappell later admitted he was deeply uncomfortable bowling the delivery but felt he couldn't refuse his captain — who was also his older brother. "I didn't want to do it," Trevor said in later interviews. "But Greg was the captain, and he was my brother. What was I supposed to do?" The incident haunted Trevor's career, overshadowing his legitimate achievements as a cricketer.

New Zealand captain Geoff Howarth called the act "disgusting," while New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon went further, telling the press: "It was the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket. It was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow." The diplomatic fallout was significant — the incident strained trans-Tasman relations in a way that transcended sport.

Even Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser weighed in, expressing his displeasure. The Australian Cricket Board issued a statement regretting the incident. Greg Chappell initially defended his decision on tactical grounds but later admitted it was a mistake, saying he "would give anything to be able to turn back the clock."

“It was the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket. It was an act of true cowardice, and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow.”

“I didn't want to do it. But Greg was the captain, and he was my brother. What was I supposed to do?”

“Fair dinkum, Greg, how much pride do you sacrifice to win? It's one of the worst things I have ever seen on a cricket field.”

“I would give anything to be able to turn back the clock. It was a mistake and I regret it deeply.”

The fallout was immediate and devastating. Greg Chappell faced a barrage of criticism from all quarters — media, former players, administrators, politicians, and his own teammates. The Australian Cricket Board condemned the act but did not formally sanction Chappell, a decision that itself drew criticism.

Within days, the rules of cricket were amended. The ICC and national boards moved swiftly to ban underarm bowling in all limited-overs cricket. It remains one of the fastest rule changes in cricket history — a measure of how universally the act was condemned.

The incident effectively ended the Chappell family's dominance of Australian cricket. While Greg continued to captain Australia, his authority was undermined by the controversy. Trevor's career was forever overshadowed — he became known as "the underarm guy" rather than for any of his cricketing achievements. The brothers' relationships were also strained, with Ian publicly critical of Greg for years afterward.