No single sporting incident has caused more divisive tension between Australians and New Zealanders than the infamous underarm ball episode.

Compounding (he usual rivalry linked with local sporting derbies, a cricket series was at stake when Australia's Trevor Chappell bowled an underarm delivery at No 11 batsman Brian McKechnie on February 1.1981. depriving the Kiwis of even the slightest chance of taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-

At the time, outraged New Zealanders talked of scrapping lung-lasting trans-Tasman political and diplomatic alliances.

The animosity has faded and Chappell has been forgiven, but not forgotten.

Here's how it played out:

New Zealand required six runs to lie a limited-overs match against Australia with one ball remaining and no wickets in hand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. At the crease was McKechnie, who had never hit a six - the highest scoring shot in cricket - in an international.

It was also (he firs( time he'd played at the MCG - which is among the biggest cricket arenas in the world - and the pitch was slow, further limiting his chances ofcracking a six.

Despite the odds. Australian

skipper Greg Chappell ordered younger brother, Trevor, to bowl the ball along the ground, making it impossible for McKechnie to club it over the boundary fence.

The delivery was legal, although it was rarely if ever used and was considered contrary to the spirit of cricket.

McKechnie watched dumbfounded as the ball skidded down the pitch at lace-height and then, after playing a defensive block, he threw' down his bat in protest.

Chasing 236 to win, the New Zealanders finished 229 for nine.

Members of the 52.000-plus crowd spilled onto the field, yelling abuse at the Chappell brothers. calling them cheats and throwing trash at their own national players.

Cricket authorities later banned the underarm delivery.

New Zealand's top politician Robert Muldoon expressed his outrage publicly, demanding an apology from his Australian counterpart. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

The media in both nations was highly critical of Chappell's tactics.

McKechnie told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper that it was the New Zealand public and politicians rather than the players who completely upset by the incident.

"Ih I he lime we left the dressing o 'in an hour Liter, even both was joking about it." he said. “It was laken up more by the politicians initially-and then by the public."

“1 wish it never happened." addid McKechnie, who never played another cricket international. “I've never held grudges ... 1 just thought why should a good game of cricket finish like that - I couldn't fathom for years why Greg would do that."

Greg Chappell said he was under enormous pressure at the time and was probably unfit to lead the national cricket team.

He said (he Australian team was playing to an impossible schedule, was physically and mentally exhausted and was not getting appropriate backup from the Australian Cricket Board.

With an arduous tour of India pending, he said his decision was inspired by a desire to get the series completed as early as possible and give his players a rest.

"If I had my time again, I wouldn’t do it," Chappell said. “Unfortunately, 1 didn't have the luxury of a second guess al it.”

Trevor Chappell. 48, said the incident had plagued him for 20 years.

"I thought it was a good idea at the time." he said. “I didn't have time to think about whai the repercussions would be. I certainly didn't envisage it going on 20 years down the track."

Although Trevor, the youngest ol the three Chappell brothers to represent Australia and the only one not to lead the national cricket team, said the infamy he got from the underarm ball was belter than not being remembered at all.