11 Jan 2019

Cricket: That yellow strip is back ...and so are the memories!

4:14 pm on 11 January 2019
For better or worse the canary yellow Australia ODI kit is back.

For better or worse the canary yellow Australia ODI kit is back. Photo: Australia Cricket

So Australia are to turn back the clock and go with canary yellow and and lime green for their one-day series against India.

A chill runs down my spine and I can feel my blood begin to boil.

As soon as I see that heinous canary yellow - I get flashbacks.

Melbourne Cricket Ground, February 1st 1981. 'The Underarm'.

Yes, yes I know it was nearly 38 years ago and I should let it go - but you can't let these iconic moments in sporting history go just like.

I was 14 years old and it's imprinted on my mind.

New Zealand versus Australia. Last ball. Six needed to not only tie the match but also level the series.

Brian McKechnie - who only three years earlier had kicked the winning penalty in the All Blacks infamous 13-12 victory over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park - was facing.

So he was a bit of a sporting hero at that time.

Trevor Chappell delivers the infamous underarm delivery.

Trevor Chappell delivers the infamous underarm delivery. Photo: Photosport

Trevor Chappell, under orders from captain and brother Greg, bowls underarm. McKechnie blocks the delivery, and all hell breaks loose.

Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon described it as "the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket", and went on to say "it was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow".

To add insult to injury, Greg Chappell had scored 90 for Australia when they batted - although Martin Snedden caught him in the deep early in his innings only for the Australian umpires to claim they weren't watching.

Rather they claimed they were were following the batsmen as they ran between the wickets to make sure they grounded their bats in the crease.

And now 'that yellow' is back!

Allan Border and his 1986 Australia one day side.

Allan Border and his 1986 Australia one day side. Photo: Supplied

The uniforms aren't an exact match to that 1981 series but are replicas of the kit Allan Border's side wore during the corresponding one-day series against India back in 1986.

Veteran quick Peter Siddle was just one year old when Allan Border's side wore them 33 years ago, but says he was excited when he saw what he will be wearing against India this summer.

"Everyone is very impressed," he said.

'Impressed' is certainly not the word that springs to mind for me. Apoplectic might be closer to it.

And anyone notice too how the colour also matches a certain type of sandpaper known to be used by Australian cricketers?

Screengrab of the yellow sandpaper used by Australia to rough up the ball in their test against South Africa in the 2018 March Test series.

Photo: Twitter / Cricket Universe