5 biggest fights in Cricket history

Cricket is often referred to as the Gentleman's Game. However, even after earning the label, the game has seen a number of controversies emerging, since the early days. This usually happens when two sides are battling it out in a very tense situation and tempers are bound to flare intentionally or unintentionally.

Witnessing verbal volleys is a normal occurrence on the field but if this banter goes out of control then it leads to nasty fights. Here we take a look at 5 of the biggest fights in cricketing history: 

1. Javed Miandad vs Dennis Lillee- 

Dennis Lillee: (Image Source: Twitter)

Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad were respected icons in their countries and they were great patrons of the game of cricket. However, the two always got involved in verbal banters whenever got the chance. Australia and Pakistan faced each other in 1981-82 in Australia and the two were involved in one of the ugliest fights in cricket history.

Pakistan were in muddy waters in the 1st Test at Perth when Javed Miandad came out to bat in the 2nd innings. A fired-up Lillee, coupled with a vociferous crowd, was giving Javed Miandad a hard time when he was doing the rear guard action with Mansoor Akthar and an ugly on-field brawl took place between Lillee and Miandad.

When finishing a single, Miandad collided with Lillee but footage suggested that Lille was the one to blame for blocking Miandad’s way. Lillee later tried to kick Miandad and the Pakistani almost threw back the bat at Lillee. Umpires later brought peace between the two.

2. Venkatesh Prasad vs Aamer Sohail-

Venkatesh Prasad: (Image Source: Twitter)

This will go down as one of the most heated encounters in Indo-Pak history. During the 1996 World Cup in Bangalore, tension was at an all-time high. Amidst that, a fight took place between Venkatesh Prasad and Amir Sohail. 

In the game, India ended up scoring 288 runs on board. Pakistan started with great intent and were scoring at a rapid pace. At 109, Amir Sohail charged down to a Venkatesh Prasad and crashed it to the cover region for a boundary. 

He indicated to Venkatesh Prasad that the next ball would also be hit for four. The war of words came to haunt Pakistan as Venkatesh Prasad bowled a peach next ball to smash Sohail’s stumps. Prasad gave it back to Sohail showing him the way back to the dressing room. It was a superb match in which India emerged victorious to confirm a semi-final birth.

3. Gautam Gambhir vs Shahid Afridi - 

Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir: (Image Source: Twitter)

Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi were involved in a big fight when Pakistan came to India in 2007-08. While taking a run, Gambhir collided with Shahid Afridi which led to a verbal spat between the two. There was an initial volley of words between them but after the collision, the situation got worse.

Gambhir went charging towards Afridi after the collision as the duo got involved in a heated argument. The stump mic revealed foul words being used by both the players. Afridi gestured to Gambhir to go back to his position. Later, the umpires had to intervene to settle the matter.

4. Gautam Gambhir vs Virat Kohli- 

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir: (Image Source: Twitter)

This incident involved Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli during the 2013 edition of the Indian T20 League. Gambhir, who was Kolkata's skipper, gave a send off to Virat Kohli when he got out. This riled up Virat Kohli and he rushed to Gambhir and openly showed his anger on the field.

Gambhir, too, wasn't backing out either and the two had a heated exchange in the middle before the teammates and the umpires timely intervened. The picture of the incident resembled two warriors ready to fight on a battlefield.

5. Michael Clarke and James Anderson - 

Michael Clarke and James Anderson: (Image Source: Twitter)

The Australians were about to wrap up the first Test match of the Ashes at Brisbane. James Anderson came to bat and the short leg fielder George Bailey was in his ears straightaway. Anderson complained about it to the umpires.

The pacer then could be signaling a punch to Bailey which riled up the Aussie captain Clarke. A big fight ensued as he rushed in to confront Anderson and said: “Get ready for a broken F***** arm”. Australia won the match later but Clarke was fined 20 percent of the match fees after the match ended.