Cricketers whose bats became the subject of controversy, some were banned from using them

New Delhi. Since the inception of the game of cricket, there have been many controversies about the bat used in it. Initially, there were no written rules regarding the size of the cricket bat. During a cricket match in 1771, a player came to bat with a bat so wide that it covered all three stumps. In such a situation, controversy was bound to happen. After the opposition team raised objections, the need to decide the size of the bat (length, width and thickness) was felt.

The size of the bat was decided but the rules did not mention that the bat should be made of wood only. In such a situation, after a player reached the field with an aluminium bat, the debate started again. Ultimately, the body making the rules of cricket had to mention along with the size of the bat that the bat should be made of wood in all circumstances. The use of bat made of any other metal is not allowed.

Took 6 wickets in Test career, including a hat-trick, broke Razzaq’s record at the age of 19

Let’s take a look at such cases related to cricketers’ bats which made headlines.

Lillee’s aluminium bat was damaging the ball

Australia’s great fast bowler Dennis Lillee had the image of a spoiled cricketer. Sometimes he/she was embroiled in controversy for fighting on the field with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad and sometimes for using a metal bat. In December 1979, during the Ashes against England, he/she came to bat with an aluminium bat in the Perth Test and also faced a few balls with it. Till this time the opposition players did not realize that his/her bat was made of metal. When England’s then captain Mike Brearley took the ball in his/her hand, he/she found its shape distorted. Then it came to light. Brearley complained about the matter to the umpires. Due to this the game was halted for a few minutes. Despite the umpires’ instructions, Lillee was not ready to change his/her bat. Later Australia’s captain Greg Chappell intervened, then Lillee expressed his/her anger and changed the bat. This incident forced the apex body of cricket to add in the rules that the bat must be made of wood only.

Carbon graphite strips were fitted on potting bat
25 years after the controversy involving Lillee, in April 2005, another Australian cricketer was involved in a controversy over his/her bat. The Kookaburra bat with which Australia’s then captain Ricky Ponting scored a double century against Pakistan came under scrutiny. This bat was made of wood but had carbon graphite strips at the back. It was believed that Ponting’s shots got extra speed because of these strips. It increases the strength of the bat and the batsman benefits from it. Ponting had said that he/she had been using this bat for the last five-six years (World Cup 2003 also took place during this period). MCC expressed concern about this to ICC. After knowing all the evidence and this carbon strip bat, the use of this bat was declared illegal. Statistics show that in the period from December 2003 to April 2005 when the case came to light, Ponting scored a lot of runs using this bat. During this period his/her average in Tests was 70.57 and in ODIs it was 42.57. It is believed that Ponting’s ‘special bat’ also contributed to this performance.

10 wickets in debut and last test, Bradman accused of ending this bowler’s career!

Matthew Hayden’s Mongoose bat garnered discussion

Australia’s opener Matthew Hayden was in the news for using the Mongoose Bat during the 2010 season of IPL. With this bat, he/she won accolades by scoring 93 runs in 43 balls against Delhi Daredevils (new name Delhi Capitals). This bat of bat manufacturing company Mongoose looks a bit different from the common bat. Its handle is longer than the common bat and the size of the blade is smaller. This bat is used to hit powerful hits. According to information, every part of the blade of this bat has a ‘sweet spot’ and it is considered suitable for hitting. Experts say that Mongoose bats are good for hitting but not for defense. The bat has its own advantages as well as disadvantages. Adapting your game to suit this small bladed bat is also an issue. Batsmen like Suresh Raina, Symonds, Stuart Law, Dwayne Smith and Ashraful have used the Mongoose bat. Raina soon gave up this bat and started using a normal bat.

Universe Boss’ Golden Bat
West Indies’s ace batsman Chris Gayle likes royal style. ‘Universe Boss’ Gayle entered the field with a golden coloured bat during Australia’s Big Bash League 2015. Indian company Spartan prepared this bat and sent it to Australia before Gayle’s first match in BBL. Gayle was the first batsman to use this special bat and he/she got a lot of attention in the media. It was also alleged that metal was used in making this bat. However, Spartan termed these allegations as nonsense. The company had said that the rules were fully followed in making the bat and it does not give any additional advantage to the batsman.

Sister pairs in international cricket, twin Blackwell’s face is so similar that it is difficult to identify them

Russell has used black and pink bat

West Indies’ Andre Russell, following Gayle’s example, created a buzz by using a jet black coloured bat in the 2016 season of the Big Bash League. he/she played with this bat in the first match of Sydney Thunders in the tournament. Before the BBL, Cricket Australia had given Russell permission to use this bat but later it was found that black spots were appearing on the ball after hitting this bat, so this permission was withdrawn. Russell has also used a pink coloured bat for batting in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). he/she did this while playing for Jamaica Thalawahs.

tag: Andre Russell, chris gayle, Ricky Ponting