Former Australian Test great Greg Chappell has admitted that he deserved the berating he got from late legendary broadcaster Richie Benaud during the February 1, 1981 tie between New Zealand and Australia, which many believe tarnished the image of the sport.
The usually calm Benaud, who passed away on Friday aged 84 after battling skin cancer, put Chappell on the receiving end of his most public spray just after Australia won the tie against New Zealand on February 1 in 1981 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground following the underarm incident in the match.
Speaking after Benaud's passing on Friday, Chappell said that he deserved the berating, admitting that the commentary doyen was right, as he generally was, adding that Benaud didn't miss too many things on the cricket field or off it and particularly in the commentary box, News.com.au reported.
The incident that had landed Chappell in hot water with Benaud back in 1981 occurred when there was just one ball left to play, and New Zealand required a six to tie the ODI match against Australia. And then skipper Chappell ordered his brother, Trevor, to bowl the final delivery underarm.
As the ball rolled along the ground towards New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie, the crowd erupted in disgust, booing the victorious Australian team off the field. And straight after the infamous game, Benaud conducted a rare piece to camera in which he offered his very strong opinion of what had just taken place.
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Benaud had said that now everyone around Australia would have their own ideas on that, adding that they always get letters and phone calls and letters about different things that happened so he didn't expect everyone to agree with him, insisting that he didn't expect that one would get 50 percent agreement on anything.
He then went on to deliver his opinion about the incident. Benaud claimed that he thinks it was a disgraceful performance from a captain who had got his sums wrong and it should never be permitted to happen again.
Benaud had said that they keep reading and hearing that the players are under a lot of pressure and that they are tired and jaded and perhaps their judgement and skill is blunted, adding that perhaps they might advance that as an excuse for what had happened out there.
Benaud went on that it was not with him, insisting that he thinks it was a very poor performance, adding that one of the worst things he had ever seen done on a cricket field, before he ended his piece with a 'Good night'.
