Today in History

1981 Trevor Chappell bowls underarm

Trans-Tasman sporting relations reached breaking point at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when Australian captain Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to bowl underarm (along the ground) for the final delivery of a limited-overs cricket international against New Zealand.

The visitors needed to score a six off the final delivery just to tie the match - a tall order at the world's biggest cricket ground and with a No. 10 batsman, Brian McKechnie, at the crease. Even so, the Chappells decided to give him no chance by bowling underarm, an act that was (at that time) legal but widely considered to be against the spirit of the game. McKechnie, incidentally, was one of a rare breed of dual internationals who represented New Zealand at both cricket and rugby.

Politicians on both sides of the Tasman became involved in the controversy. New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon called it 'the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket', and 'an act of cowardice'. His Australian counterpart Malcolm Fraser agreed that it was 'contrary to the traditions of the game'.

1842 First NZ Company settlers arrive in Nelson

The Fifeshire arrived in Nelson with the first immigrants for the New Zealand Company's latest venture, which followed the settlement of Wellington, New Plymouth and Wanganui.

Image: Painting of Nelson in 1841 by Charles Heaphy (Timeframes)