It’s 1981 at the MCG and Australian captain Greg Chappell is telling his younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm to Kiwi batsman Brian McKechnie for the last delivery of a ODI with the Kiwis needing six to tie.
Instead of creating history, multi-millions of words could have been saved if Trevor had told Greg to get stuffed, bowl it yourself.
Last Saturday, 37 years later, billions of words would have been saved if Cameron Bancroft had told Australian vice-captain David Warner to get stuffed, ball-tamper yourself.
What a dramatic change those few different words would have had on the lives of four baggy greeners.
Trevor Chappell’s life was never the same.
He’s lost count of the number of new people he’s met over those 37 years who immediately said with pointed finger – “I know you, you’re the underarm bowler”.
It cost him his marriage, and he never became a father.
He was confined to the cricketing boondocks to coach Bangladesh when they didn’t have the cattle, nor did Singapore.
There was one period when Trevor was Sri Lanka’s fielding coach that he felt part of international cricket again – but the feeling was only fleeting.
All those tough times have transpired despite the fact underarm in 1981 was still legal. All the captain had to do was advise the batsman of the delivery change.
Greg Chappell did just that, Trevor bowled the underarm along the ground, McKechnie blocked it and threw his bat away in disgust.
Within days the ICC outlawed underarm forever – it’s the fastest the governing body has ever moved.
Cold comfort for Trevor Chappell.
But he knows better than anyone what Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft are about to suffer.
And what they did in Cape Town last Saturday was illegal.
(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Watching live television last night with Bancroft in his hometown of Perth, and the former skipper in Sydney, was very disturbing.
Both were gutted and genuinely remorseful of their stupidity, but that’s just day one in their home environment.
Smith has a year to go before he can play another Test, or for NSW, and he can’t captain either for two years.
Bancroft has nine months before he’s again eligible for Australia, and Western Australia.
The tragedy is both are top blokes, and both highly respected by their peers at international and interstate level.
But they will forever regret not following their upbringing, and how they really riled the world of sport, and sporting fans.
It was interesting what former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.
He hoped Smith and Bancroft made their way back, but he didn’t care about the other one.
The other one is, of course, David Warner who has also copped a 12-month ban, but his papers have been marked never to captain again after being found guilty of being the prime mover with the ball tampering.
He has yet to surface in Sydney, and his media conference will be closely monitored on arrival.
Smith and Bancroft generated a large degree of sympathy with their conferences, even taking into account their wrong-doing.
How Warner attacks his conference will define the way he’ll be treated.
The one permanent loss will be coach Darren Lehmann who will hang up his coaching shingles after the Johannesburg Test that starts tomorrow.
His contract doesn’t run out until next year, but he’s decided that while he was found not guilty of any involvement in the tampering, it’s time there was a change at the top.
And he’s right.
Cricket Australia has plenty of time to find a replacement with Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, and Jason Gillespie among the front-runners.
But all three have been an integral part of baggy green culture throughout their careers so it’s time to get away from the past and look to the future with the likes of Brendon McCullum who was the Lone Ranger to lift Black Cap cricket as captain from journeymen to world class status with a top-shelf culture.
McCullum is tough and fair, but won’t take any prisoners.
One cricketer who will be closely watched in Johannesburg will be South African captain Faf du Plessis, a two-time convicted ball tamperer who copped just a match fee fine, and some worthless demerit points.
Will he let his renowned sledgers loose, knowing there’s no way any Australian will try to replace David Warner?
Promises to be an evenful five days, if it lasts that long.
Internal Fixation
Guest
On Trevor Chappell - the way he was treated by the NZ public and media ais disgraceful. They should have said - hey we knighted a bloke who ripped the greatest Australian’s halfbacks hip out its socket. Unsavoury events happen in sport sometimes. Let’s all move on. Instead they have never stopped bleating about it.
Howzat
Guest
"Standing one’s ground knowing you knicked it to the keeper hoping the umpire didn’t notice! " Is absolutely fair enough, it's the umpires job to give you out or not out. "Call for a catch you’re not sure of ! " Then the catch get's reviewed by the third umpire - no big deal. "Tennis Player arguing about a line call!" Is perfectly ok - they can even challenge the call and have hawkeye review it. On some of the clay court tournaments the umpires will come and check out the mark on the surface. Try coming up with a list of cheating that's actual cheating.
Howzat
Guest
"There has never been any suggestion that Warne was involved in any kind of match fixing or was using any kind of steroids." And that still hasn't changed. When you find something with, I dunno, maybe some kind of actual evidentary basis to it then let us know.
dave
Guest
Every 5km speed increase enhances the chance of an accident and possible loss of life.The deaths by car in Australia is unacceptable. I would be happy if Australia took this same moral outrage against people speeding. Scratching up a cricket ball pales in significance.
anon
Roar Pro
There has never been any suggestion that Warne was involved in any kind of match fixing or was using any kind of steroids. When a sportsman takes money for bookmakers they lose the right to be given the benefit of the doubt. If a Pakistani cricketer was taking money from bookmakers but then admitted it was just for pitch information would you believe him? I wouldn't. He was busted for using the steroid masking agent in the lead up to the World Cup in March 2003. Off the top of my head he hurt his shoulder in December 2002 in a one dayer against England. It was assumed that he would miss the World Cup because it was a fairly serious injury, but he made a miraculous return in time. However, he was busted for using a steroid masking agent. Steroids can be used not just for strength but to recover from injury quicker. His excuse that he used it because he was trying to get rid of his double chin doesn't really pass the smell test does it? Would you buy that excuse from a Pakistani cricketer? Again, you lose the benefit of the doubt when you have Warne's track record.
Ossie
Guest
Still after all these years the most cowardly delivery ever!
Howzat
Guest
There has never been any suggestion that Warne was involved in any kind of match fixing or was using any kind of steroids. He may have been naive or even stupid but there's no allegations of malice leveled regards his behavior. Which puts him in a far different category to those who conspired to cheat.
Worried
Guest
Massive, Massive beat up by the media! Journalism at its worst to the absolute shame of everyone involved in that industry! A few player were caught cheating, and the should be punished, by and within the rules of the game they were playing. The Media have NO place in this. Most if not ALL professional sportspeople have or will cheat at some time !!! FACT! If not then there would be no need for Referees or Umpires. Standing one's ground knowing you knicked it to the keeper hoping the umpire didn't notice! Call for a catch you're not sure of ! Footballer falling over and asking for a penalty ! Tennis Player arguing about a line call! Etc. Etc. Etc. This sells papers, that's all. The extra stress lumped on these players just to sell a few papers is disgusting. We need to have laws changed in this country to stop media from pushing microphones into peoples faces, it assault and reporters should be charged!
Robin
Guest
They are young chaps and I hope they can move on from this - we all make mistakes but do not have it played out in the media like this. I think that this has been an ugly episode from a media standpoint - a distasteful and hypocritical witch hunt with all and sundry jumping on the bandwagon. The only hope I have is that it brings in measures that will take this lovely game back to a better place.
Bob Pacey
Guest
Stupidresponse old mate
Howzat
Guest
Hey Scott - yeah - except if the CEO gets caught then you never know you he might end up doing some time inside http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/michael-issakidis-gets-10-years-jail-for-450m-tax-fraud-20180329-h0y3v3 And that's the thing with Smith and Co - they've been caught red handed. "1 match is a joke but so is 12 months" Yeah you're right - should have been a life ban from Australian cricket. Enjoy the IPL guys.
anon
Roar Pro
I think it will all be forgotten about fairly quickly. It's just ball tampering. Captain of South Africa has been guilty of it twice. Warne was on the take with Indian bookies and got busted taking a steroid masking agent yet is revered today. Both of those actions far worse than trying to rough up a ball to make it swing. Everyone has been given their suspensions, Lehmann has stepped down. There's not much more to say about this and nothing more for Cricket Australia to do. The whimpering from Smith and Lehmann is unbecoming.
Paul
Roar Guru
it's about bring the game into disrepute by a series of deliberate acts. If a bowler deliberately runs down the pitch repeatedly and it can be proven this was a scheme concocted by the team leadership, by all means impose bans because they've brought the game into disrepute and they've deliberately broken one of the Laws. Not sure why you raise the issue about walking when that's not breaking any Laws, if you do or don't walk. Australian cricketers are not expected to be angels, but they are expected to go back to playing the game in a hard but fair manner. They've managed to do that pretty successfully for the best part of a century, so it shouldn't be hard to do it again.
michael steel
Guest
Seeing Trevor Chappell on the front page of the Courier Mail this week was sobering. Because of no social media in 1981 he was hung by the newspapers and never had anyone to defend him. Social media and sites like The Roar at least gives everyone an opportunity share their opinion. The same goes for Kim Hughes, whose crime was crying. If social media was around then I would have been sympathetic to Hughes. Even today he's still being called a sook. I think after 35 to 40 years they've paid for their crimes. Trevor for a legal underarm delivery and Kim for crying. Now I'd love to see you David Lord right an article on my favourite all time cricketer Jeff Thomson. If I wrote an article it would be totally biased with many inaccuracies but the fact is after the WSC reformation Thommo who was bowling sensationally in shield cricket was passed over for the likes of Geoff Lawson, Wayne Clark and lesser likes. Should have been in the disastrous touring side of 1980 to England and maybe should have / could have been Australian captain after Bobby Simpson, but I don't know the facts. Imagine Thommo and a new kid Rodney Hogg v the Poms 1978.
Dave SPG
Roar Rookie
Not McCullum, please. Too much of the preaching, he's done, and in debatable situations. Repent!! Sinners!! The end is nigh!!
Scott
Guest
In most cases the CEO would blame the junior accountant, declare a loss, turn it into a profit the next year by reversing the write off and get a bonus (refer CBA the first five or so screw ups). 1 match is a joke but so is 12 months
Bakkies
Guest
Well if he didn't lie to the umpires and press afterwards it would have reduced his charge significantly he possibly would have had the same ban as Bancroft and be back for the Sydney test. Boxing Day would have been too soon. I don't think he will contest he has admitted he needs a break. The ACA said they will challenge the sanctions all Smith has to say no just leave it.
Bakkies
Guest
Most ball tampering incidents weren't concocted at the lunch break and questioned by the umpires.
Internal Fixation
Guest
I see your point about the appeal but playing India without him will open similar wounds I would suggest.
Internal Fixation
Guest
I don’t think Smith has really been involved in that behaviour. He was supportive of DuPlessis more than critical. Warner is a different story. I understand Smith’s position is tough as I have been the boss of older and more experienced co-workers who have done the wrong thing and it is hard to pull them into line. I just think the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.