In a shocking development, keeper-batter Tim Paine stepped down as Australian Test captain days ahead of Ashes 2021-22. The cricketer was found guilty of sending sexually explicit text messages to a female colleague, a Cricket Tasmania staffer, in 2017.

During the 1979-80 Ashes Test, former Australian pacer Dennis Lillee walked out to bat with an aluminum bat manufactured by a company owned by his friend. The then-England captain Mike Brearley complained to the umpires, claiming that the metallic bat was damaging the soft, leather cricket ball.

A few years back, Moeen Ali, who has come out of Test retirement for the upcoming Ashes, alleged that an Australian player referred to him as ‘Osama’ during the first Test at Cardiff in 2015, a game in which he scored 77 in the first innings and took five wickets as England won by 169 runs.

Undoubtedly, Bodyline is the biggest Ashes controversy. Devised by the England team, the controversy gained momentum during the 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia. In bodyline, the ball was bowled, at pace, at the body of the batter, expecting him to defend himself with his bat. The approach was aimed at inducing a deflection off the bat, which could be caught by one of several fielders standing close by on the leg side.

Star pacer Stuart Broad was batting on 37 in England’s second innings during the first Test in 2013 at Trent Bridge. The ball off Ashton Agar deflected off wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s glove to Michael Clarke at slip. While it was very clear that Broad was out, umpire Aleem Dar shockingly did not raise his finger. Broad stood his ground as if nothing had happened, much to the horror of the Australians.