5 most hated cricketers

There are both types of players – those we hate and those we love. I have favourites in both areas but I’m also an extremist; when I love, I love with obsession and when I hate, well, I hate with complete angst. And when it comes to cricket and the gentlemen who play, well, that is a craze which cannot even be defined. Here I’ve listed the five most hated cricketers according to me.

5. RAVI SHASTRI

He was a very frustrating guy to watch. He lost India many ODI matches by playing very slowly in the 90s. He is actually one Indian player I wanted to get out so that we could have a chance of winning the match. I still remember him coming down the pitch only to block the ball from the spinners. He irritated me as a batsman as well as a bowler.

4. SHAHID AFRIDI

Indian fans started hating this cricketer very recently. In the semifinal of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, we saw him giving the sweetest losing speech. We all had a feeling of respect for Afridi apologizing to his nation. And then, he pulled a fast one on us. As soon as he left the Indian soil and touched down on home ground, he became the biggest fool known to international cricket. “Indians don’t have a big heart,” he said.

In an instance, he lost all the respect that fans had for him and he quickly found himself in a list that put him amidst the most detested cricketers.

3. RICKY PONTING

Ponting is hated for a number of reasons. For starters, his attitude has always been questionable. He walked on the field, chewing gum with a smirk, believing that he is the best captain of the best team. However, his attitude eventually brought his downfall. Who can forget the controversial Sydney Test played against India in 2008. After that match, he simply lost any respect that any cricket fan in the world had towards him.

2. HAROLD LARWOOD

Some of you might not have heard about him. He is one of the most hated men and yet, the finest bowler of his time. This guy from England was the main weapon for his team in the bowling style known as ‘Bodyline’. During the Marylebone Cricket Ground (MCC) tour of Australia in 1932–33, the use of ‘Bodyline’ created a lot of tension between the two cricket loving nations and that brought a premature and bitter end to Larwood’s international career.

1. GREG CHAPPELL

This Australian needs no introduction. According to me, he is the most hated man in the cricket world. In 1981, during a match between Australia and New Zealand, to prevent New Zealand from scoring the six they needed to tie the game, skipper Greg instructed his bowler (and younger brother), Trevor Chappell to deliver the last ball underarm, along the ground. This action was seen as being against the spirit of cricketing fair play. And who can forget what happened when he become the coach of Team India.

Although there are some others, like Chetan Sharma (for allowing a six off the last ball against Javed Miandad), Hansie Cronje, Javed Miandad, but the above 5 are far ahead of these according to me.