Crickets Greatest Scandals

From match-fixing, board-room punch-ups and captains in disgrace through to selection scams, insults and mob violence, cricket has long been surrounded by scandal. The so-called gentleman's game has been exposed to conspiracies and searing headlines ever since the Sydney riot of 1879 when English captain Lord Harris was attacked with a stick. Now revelations of players on the take and illegal billion-dollar bookmaking rackets have triggered fresh storms. In this revised and updated edition of "Cricket's Greatest Scandals", award-winning sports writer Ken Piesse explores the most damning incidents, names the ringleaders and bunglers and reveals the vulnerability of an age-old game steeped in tradition.
Among the controversies, disputes and quarrels featured are: Hansie Cronje and the match-fixing furore; Saleem Malik's hotline to the gambling fraternity; Indian superstar Mohammed Azharuddin's spectacular fall from grace; Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and a bookmaking bungle; Mike Atherton and the ball-tampering scandal; Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and "that" bet; Trevor Chappell's infamous underarm ball; how Bodyline threatened to end friendly Anglo-Australian relations; the wrangle that almost stopped Don Bradman's celebrated career; how W.G. Grace stole Australia's best player; and more.