That Underarm Ball, Twenty Years On

The ANZAC spirit goes back long before Australia and New Zealand seriously engaged in any cricketing contests. However it was such a contest that dampened spirits between the two countries and started a sporting rivalry that has grown into fierce competition.

On that fateful day, twenty years ago, on the first of February 1981 the one-day match between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG finished in one of cricket’s greatest controversies. It was the day Trevor Chappell, under orders from his captain and brother Greg, bowled underarm on the last ball to prevent New Zealand tail ender, Brian McKechnie, from scoring a six. While McKechnie now laughs about the incidence, any ill feeling long forgotten, both the Chappells, in particular Greg, regret what happened on that day and still find discomfort in talking about it all these years on.

It was a typically hot day and the third final of the Benson and Hedges one-day series. Feelings among the Australians and the board had been simmering all summer and the absence of coaching staff or support crew like today meant tempers and feelings were bound to flare.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, sending openers Allan Border and Graeme Wood out to face the fierce pace of the great Richard Hadlee. All did not start well with future captain Border dismissed for just five, caught Parker bowled Hadlee. Captain Greg Chappell joined Wood and the two put together a match-winning partnership. Wood, batting more carefully, reached a well deserved fifty as did Chappell as the score passed the 100 mark and eventually the 150. However three runs later Wood departed for a patient 72, bowled by McEwan. Martin Kent joined his captain and the two put together a quick partnership that boosted the score to 199 before Chappell fell ten short of his hundred, out for 90. Chappell became Martin Snedden’s first wicket to a catch by Bruce Edgar. Kent became Snedden’s second wicket, out for 33. Rod Marsh, along with Doug Walters, tried to lift the total in the final overs, Marsh ending up on 18 not out and Walters 5 not out, to leave the Australians at 4/235 off their fifty overs. Although perhaps seemingly a relatively small total it was, for it’s time, a fairly competitive total that would test the New Zealanders in their innings.

John Wright, along with Bruce Edgar, opened for New Zealand, starting steadily and frustrating the Australian attack of Dennis Lillee and Max Walker. Although a little slower than the Australian start the two were still scoring at a respectable rate while seeing off the opening barrage from the two Australian stars. Wright was settling well and looked set for a long stay at the crease until he fell on 42 to a Martin Kent catch of the bowling of Greg Chappell. At 1/85 the match was evenly poised and it continued that way as New Zealand’s captain, Geoff Howarth, joined Edgar at the crease. Howarth’s innings of 18 helped lift the rate but his wicket fell with the score on 117. Lance Cairns, as usual, provided some entertainment but his efforts to lift the rate inevitably brought his downfall, out for 12 bowled by Graeme Beard. When Burgess became Chappell’s third victim the Kiwis had slumped to 4/139 and at danger of falling behind the required run rate. However with Edgar edging towards his century and the new batsmen, John Parker, providing support the New Zealand innings was put back on course. Parker’s 24 off 19 balls was some welcome relief but his wicket to Hadlee brought the crowd back into the game and Australia could sense victory. However Edgar reached a deserved hundred but importantly he was at the non-strikers end as Trevor Chappell started that infamous final over.

Fifteen runs were needed and with Hadlee on strike a victory seemed unlikely. However a four off the first ball renewed hope but when Hadlee fell LBW off the second ball hopes were again dimmed. Keeper Ian Smith hit the third and fourth balls for two runs each and, with just seven runs needed off two balls, victory was again looking a possibility. However Smith’s wicket, bowled off the fifth ball, brought Brian McKechnie to the crease and the chances of hitting a six unlikely. McKechnie had never hit a six in his limited career. With the crowd on the edge of their seats Greg Chappell strode up to his brother and whispered something in his ear. Trevor Chappell then proceeded to walk in and bowl the ball underarm. A bemused McKechnie defended the ball away, threw his bat to the ground and the two Kiwis walked off in disgust. Rod Marsh, along with many of the other Australian team, stood, hands on hips, looking as bemused as McKechnie did. Never had they seen something like this! However it was, at the time, in the rules and so the result stood, Australia winning by 6 runs.

The delivery has always been a mystery. Whether it was a tactical move to ensure victory or an industrial protest of sort will remain unknown. Ironically it was McKechnie’s last international game and the start of a twenty-year guilt felt by both Chappell brothers.

"We were exhausted and it was bloody hot. When Greg told me to bowl underarm on the last ball, all I can remember thinking is that it sounded like a good idea. I don’t know if I’ve ever spoken to Greg about it since. You block out the bad memories." Reminisces Trevor Chappell.

"I would say that it is the worst moment of my career. I was unhappy about it straight away. All I can say is that, due to many different circumstances on that particular day…I was not fit to be captain of Australia." Greg Chappell spoke with regret.

As for McKechnie; He holds no grudge, in fact he remembers laughing about the incidence only an hour after it happened. "But by the time we left the dressing room an hour later, everyone was joking about it really."

Whether it was the right or wrong thing to do will be debated for years to come however what it did do is start a fierce, yet healthy, rivalry between the two cross Tasman neighbors. And, just incase you’re thinking of doing it yourself, it is now illegal to bowl underarm, the legacy of that fateful day at the MCG.