Cricket is known as the gentlemen's game but that tag does not go with the ferocity with which the game is usually played with. The pulsating contest between the bat and ball and the desire to do better on the field usually leads to players losing their cool.
Time and again, players get involved in heated exchanges on the cricket field. The fiery determination of the cricketers to do better than the opposition players or to avenge a previous defeat has resulted in some famous 'revenge moments' in cricket. Those moments have become the part of the cricketing folklore.
Over the years, the players have taken revenge in various ways. From a batter unleashing an assault against the opposition to a bowler tormenting a team after being irked by something, the gentlemen's game has had its fare share of revenge moments. The fascinating moments make the game only more interesting.
5 most memorable 'revenge' moments in cricket history:
5. James Anderson vs Mitchell Johnson
The 2010-11 Ashes series was a disaster for Australia as they were humiliated by England in their own backyard. England completely dominated the series and won it by a margin of 3-1 to register their first series win in Australia in 24 years. It was the first time any team had won three Tests by an innings in a single series away from home.
It was also the first time that Australia had lost three Tests at home in a series since 1988/89 season. Australia's only win of the series came in the Perth Test. That match also witnessed the famous sledging incident between Mitchell Johnson and James Anderson. Trying to unsettle Anderson, Johnson told the England fast-bowler: "Why are you chirping now mate, not getting any wickets?".
And it took Anderson just few moments to leave Johnson red-faced as he responded by castling his partner Ryan Harris before turning around to the former Australia pacer to 'shush' him with a finger on the lips gesture.
3. Virat Kohli vs Kesrick Williams
Virat Kohli just loves a duel on the cricket field and he rarely loses any and West Indies bowler Kesrick Williams learned it the hard way. Williams received the thrashing of a lifetime from the India superstar after he made the mistake of giving him a send-off.
The year was 2017 when India toured West Indies and both the teams locked horns in the one-off T20I in Jamaica. Williams dismissed Kohli for 39 and brought out his trademark notebook celebration. Williams had no idea what was to happen when he and Kohli crossed paths again two years later in Hyderabad. The then-India skipper blew West Indies away with his scintillating knock of 94 runs from just 50 balls.
Kohli took Williams to the cleaners and made sure to remind him of the send-off he gave him a couple of years ago. After hitting the pacer for sixes and fours, Kohli brought out the 'notebook celebration' not once but three times.
2. Yuvraj Singh vs Andrew Flintoff
The Yuvraj Singh vs Andrew Flintoff battle during the 2007 T20 World Cup clash between India and England is one of the most popular revenge moments in the game. With both the teams involved in a must-win clash, Flintoff decided to get under Yuvraj's skin and the latter responded by becoming the first-ever batter to hit six sixes in an over in T20Is.
Stuart Broad had to pay the price for Flintoff's actions as he was the bowler who came to bowl after the latter decided to have a go at Yuvraj. The former India batsman completed his fifty off just 12 balls and still holds the record for the fastest T20I fifty. Notably, India won the game and the tournament with Yuvraj playing a starring role with the bat.
In 2020, Yuvraj during a conversation with Flintoff's former teammate Kevin Pietersen revealed the exchange between him and the former England allrounder, saying: "I think Freddie bowled two good balls and he bowled a yorker which I managed to hit for a boundary. Then he told me that this was a dash shot, he got pretty elaborative. He said I am gonna cut your throat off and then I replied saying you see this bat in my hand? You know where I am gonna hit you with this bat?"
2. Sourav Ganguly vs England
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was known for his aggressive mindset during his captaincy days. The legendary batsman never shied away from picking a battle and came out on top on most of the occasions. And England realised it during the NatWest series in 2002.
Few months before the epic Natwest series final at Lord's, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff had enraged Ganguly and the whole Indian cricket fraternity by taking his shirt off and waving it after helping his team to a series-levelling ODI win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Ganguly did not let Flintoff and England get away with that gesture as he picked the perfect venue and match for his revenge.
After India successfully chased down a record total of 325 at the iconic Lord's, Ganguly left the cricketing world shellshocked by taking his shirt off and waving it aggressively in the balcony. The image of the celebration has become immortal and many believe that it was the defining moment that changed Indian cricket's attitude.
Ganguly was not done yet. He rubbed more salt on England's wounds by giving a bold interview. After the game ended, Geoffrey Boycott had asked Ganguly about the incident. Calling the former India batsman a naughty boy, Boycott said: "You must mention your experience about taking your jersey off and flying it in the air at the Mecca of Cricket: Lord’s! Ohhh, you naughty boy!"
In reply, Ganguly said: "One of your boys also took off his jersey here in Mumbai." Boycott was not satisfied with the explanation and further asked: "Yeah, but Lord’s is the Mecca of Cricket." Ganguly then gave the former England batsman a fitting reply, telling him: "Lord’s is your Mecca, and Wankhede is ours!"
1. Venkatesh Prasad vs Aamir Sohail
At number one in this list is the famous duel between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail. The incident took place in the quarterfinal match of the 1996 World Cup and is an integral part of the Indian cricketing folklore. The India-Pakistan match is the mother of all battles and perhaps no incident defines it better than the one that involved Prasad and Sohail.
Chasing 288, Pakistan were off to a brilliant star thanks to Sohail and his opening partner Saeed Anwar. They added 84 runs in just 10 overs before Anwar departed. Sohail went on to complete his fifty before deciding to indulge in a verbal battle. After hitting Prasad for a cracking four on the off side in the 15th over, the ex-Pakistan skipper tried to get under his skin by pointing his bat towards the same region.
Prasad, however, had the last laugh as he cleaned him up on the very next delivery and made sure to give the Pakistan opener a fitting send-off. The wicket also derailed Pakistan's chance and they eventually finished on 248/9 to lose the game by 39 runs.
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