5 Controversial declarations in cricket history

Test match cricket throws up a lot of unique challenges. Apart from testing the patience, perseverance, character, and versatility, it also posed a unique challenge to the captains of timing the declaration of an innings to perfection.

The way a captain approaches a declaration often reflects the mindset of him as well as his team. It goes to show whether he is a proactive captain who is always on a lookout for a result of a defensive captain who tends to preach the safety-first approach.

We have seen too many cases in the past of both such instances where captains have gone out of their way to ensure we get a result by doing sporting declarations while at times we have been captains approach it defensively with their safety-first approach. There have also been occasions when a declaration has raised eyebrows of the pundits as well as the fans.

Here’s a list of 5 controversial declarations in cricket history:

5. Tim Paine declaring for ‘team’s cause’ at the Adelaide Oval

It was the second Test of the two-match series between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval where David Warner once again displayed as to why he is mean run-machine when it comes to batting in home conditions.

Warner, who hadn’t even managed 100 runs across 10 Ashes innings in England, shellacked the Pakistani attack to the tune of a triple-century, breaking several records in the process, including the feat of going past the likes of Mark Taylor, Sir Donald Bradman, and Michael Clarke and becoming the highest individual run-scorer in a single innings for Australia.

But, just as it looked, Warner was warming to break Brain Lara‘s Mount.400, Tim Paine- fearing that the impending rain (which did not arrive) will jeopardize Australia’s chances of notching up a victory- called his batsmen in, leaving Warner stranded on 335 not out.

Australia went on to win the Test match comprehensively and while David Warner did not moan about having not got a chance to break the record, battle lines were certainly drawn on social media, with some fans hailing Paine for keeping the interests of the team over personal milestones and vice versa.