Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan was called out by the on-field umpire Darrell Hair during the Boxing Day Test match against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1995. Australia won the Test match comfortably by 10 wickets, but that game is remembered for the no-ball controversy between Muralitharan and the Australian umpire. On-field umpire called Muralitharan out for a no-ball not just for one, two or three times, but seven times.
The incident could have ended Muttiah Muralitharan’s legendary career. However, the off-spinner decided to change the bowling end. After that, New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne didn’t call him for a no ball even once. A similar incident took place during the 1998-99 featuring Muralitharan and Australian umpire Ross Emerson. The on-field umpire was confused with Muralitharan’s distinctive bowling action and called it a no-ball.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Boxing Day Test
Talking about the match, Australia posted 500/6 while batting first, with David scoring 110(312) runs, whereas Steve Waugh top scored with 131*(252) runs. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 233 runs, trailing by 267 runs in the first inning. Glenn McGrath registered figures of 5/40, while Craig McDermott scalped two wickets. After that, Sri Lanka were enforced follow-on and were bowled out for 307 runs giving Australia a target of 41 runs to win.
Asanka Gurusinha was the top scorer for Sri Lanka in the second innings with a knock of 143(274) runs, while Shane Warne shone with the ball for Australia taking four scalps. After that, skipper Mark Taylor and Michael Slater chased down the target of 41 runs in 7.4 overs. Australia won the second Test by 10 wickets and eventually went on to clean sweep Sri Lanka by 3-0 in a three-match Test series.
