During a Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was controversially no-balled for throwing.
This incident sparked significant debate about bowling techniques and the interpretation of cricket's rules regarding bowling action. Paul Adams becomes South Africa's youngest Test Cricket player at 18 yrs 340 days
**"Read More" BELOW for the complete story**
The incident unfolded in Melbourne, where Muttiah Muralitharan found himself targeted by Australian umpire Darrell Hair, he was controversially called for throwing not once, twice, or thrice, but seven times. This scrutiny could have marked as the end of Murali’s Test cricket career.
The Boxing Day Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in 1995 was far away from a spirit of Christmas. The Test was overshadowed by a controversial no-ball incident that had almost ended the career of the greatest spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
This scrutiny could have marked as the end of Murali’s Test cricket career. However, fate took a different turn as the resilient bowler, undeterred by the repeated calls, decided to switch ends. The change in ends did not only alter Murali’s trajectory in that match but had far-reaching consequences for the cricketing world.
As if the saga with Hair was not enough, fate dealt another contentious blow to Murali in the form of Australian umpire Ross Emerson during the 1998-99 season. The controversy and debate surrounding Muttiah Muralitharan’s distinctive bowling action where umpires called his deliveries no-balls.