Listen to the appalled reaction of radio commentators to Trevor Chappell bowling underarm on the last ball of a one-day game between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 February 1981. The game was the third of a five-match series final, and each team had won one game. There was already some ill-feeling when in Australia's innings the Australian captain Greg Chappell was ruled not out after a catch by Martin Snedden which television showed was legitimate. New Zealand still had six runs to tie and two wickets in hand when the final ball came to be bowled. To prevent Brian McKechnie, the New Zealand batsman, hitting a six, Greg Chappell told his brother Trevor to bowl the ball underarm. This was strictly within the rules of the game, but it was universally considered unsportsmanlike. Subsequently underam bowling was outlawed in one-day cricket. Largely ignored in the furore was the New Zealand batsman at the non-striker's end, Bruce Edgar, who was left 102 not out.
Transcript
They're now going across to speak to McKechnie. Oh, he wants to bowl underarm – I must've been wrong about the ruling on the underground bowling. I'm positive I read in the rule that following the English players bowling an underground delivery last season, it had been decided. And I think it's a bit in spite.
Well they say Australians play the game hard, here's very good evidence of it. They're going to bowl underarm.
I think it is below the pale really as I said I don't think a six could possibly be hit on this ground by McKechnie and now Trevor Chappell's going to bowl it underarm and I think this is a sad finish to the game.
Well, I don't wanna comment on that but the end of the game. Ian Brayshaw.
I think it is bad Australia chose to win the game that way and McKechnie blocked the ball away and then threw his bat on the ground and I think there have been a couple of sad moments on this game on this ground and I think Australia could have stuck their chin out and tried to try to win the game in a more manful manner than that.
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