On This Day in 1995: Muttiah Muralitharan was given no-ball by umpire 7 times

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1995 during the Boxing Day Test match, the scene was focused on Muttiah Muralitharan the off-spinner from Sri Lanka getting into major trouble. Australia won the Test match comfortably by 10 wickets. But the umpire from Australia, Darrell Hair calling Muralitharan for throwing no-balls not once or twice but seven times.

NO BALL!!

Darrell Hair called Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in Melbourne. Muralitharan was called 7 times before he switched to other end (Steve Dunne didn't call even once).#OnThisDay in 1995.

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— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) December 26, 2023

Muralitharan was in trouble because his bowling action was very unusual with special manner he flicked his wrist.It seems like the umpire watched a part of the situation unfold. He could have allowed the conflict to ruin the game for him, but instead, he chose not to let it affect him permanently. He decided to switch the bowling end. After he made that change, the umpire from New Zealand, Steve Dunne, never called him for a no-ball again. It somewhat hinted that the issue might have been more focused on where Muralitharan was bowling from than if his moves were actually against the rules.

In 1998-99, the Ross Emerson an umpire from Australia called Muralitharan a no-ball while he was playing in a series between Sri Lanka and Australia. Emerson did not know about Muralitharan's style, which simply proved how abnormal and confusing his manner of bowling was to people. But, Muralitharan did not allow that to prevent him, showing everyone that not only was his style legitimate but he was also one of the greatest bowlers cricket has ever seen.

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