The Underarm Bowling Controversy, 1981
The Perth Test of November 1981 is remembered not for runs or wickets, but for one of cricket's ugliest confrontations. On Day 4, Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad clashed in the middle of the pitch, turning a simple run into a near fistfight — an incident that has gone down in cricket folklore as the Perth Scuffle.
The Incident
- The run & block: After nudging Lillee for a run, Miandad jogged down the pitch. As he crossed, Lillee completed his follow-through and moved across Miandad's path, blocking him.
- The clash: Miandad pushed Lillee aside to get through. In response, Lillee kicked Miandad on the back of the leg.
- Bat raised: Angered, Miandad lifted his bat above his head as if to strike Lillee, while Lillee clenched his fists like a boxer.
- Umpire intervention: Umpire Tony Crafter quickly stepped in to restrain Lillee, while Mel Johnson oversaw from square leg. The scene lasted only seconds but shocked the cricketing world.
The Aftermath
- The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) fined Lillee A$120 and banned him for 2 one-day internationals. Miandad received no punishment.
- The Test continued, with Australia going on to win by 286 runs.
Inside Story and Legacy
- The incident drew widespread condemnation and was described by Wisden as one of the most undignified scenes in Test cricket.
- Lillee later argued that Miandad struck him with the bat first, while Miandad maintained Lillee kicked him. Video evidence and most accounts supported Miandad's version.
- For Pakistani fans, Miandad's defiance against Lillee made him an even bigger hero. For cricket as a whole, the Perth Scuffle exposed how heated rivalries and clashing personalities could boil over into physical confrontation.
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Final Note
The Perth Scuffle of 1981 remains a flashpoint in Test history — a reminder of how quickly competitive fire can spill into chaos. In just a few seconds, a blocked path, a kick, and a raised bat turned a Test into a confrontation still remembered more than four decades later.
