Chappell: Players will suffer like I did after underarm disgrace

I struggled a lot with it mentally, I was vilified for years and people still ask about it.

The man who delivered the infamous underarm ball says Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft will replace him as the biggest villains in Australian cricket history.

Trevor Chappell, who bowled an underarm delivery at the end of a 1981 ODI against New Zealand, said he has had to live with the notoriety of the moment in the 37 years since.

He told the that following the ball-tampering scandal against South Africa on Sunday, the Aussie players will have to deal with the consequences for the rest of the lives.

“What I did has lived with me ever since and it will be the same for Smith and Bancroft,” said the 65-year-old.

“They will struggle for the rest of their lives and be known as the ones who brought Australian cricket into disrepute.”

Bancroft, alongside captain Smith, admitted to ball-tampering on day three of the test after television cameras captured the Trevor Chappell Australian opener rubbing the match ball with yellow tape to make it sticky and pick up dirt.

Smith was banned for one test match by the ICC and fined all of his match fee. Bancroft was fined 75 per cent of his match fee. Cricket Australia are to investigate the scandal which could see Smith, vicecaptain David Warner and Bancroft face further sanctions.

Chappell said the ball-tampering scandal and Australia admitting to cheating would replace the underarm delivery as the darkest cricketing moment for the country.

“I thought it was a good idea to underarm bowl at the time but not these days.

“I struggled a lot with it mentally, I was vilified for years and people will still ask about it.”

The 1981 incident occurred when Australia played New Zealand in an ODI at the MCG. New Zealand required six runs from the final ball to tie the match. Greg Chappell, the Australian captain, instructed his bowler (and younger brother), Trevor, to bowl the ball underarm to prevent Brian McKechnie, the facing batsman, from hitting the required six. Bowling underarm was within the laws of international cricket at the time but perceived as unsportsmanlike. It was subsequently banned.

“I don’t know if my brothers have done better in life than me after what happened, Greg copped it at the time, but the quiet life certainly chose me after that — my marriage broke down and I never remarried or had kids.”