Match-fixing

Cricket's biggest match-fixing scandal was unearthed in 2000, when Hansie Cronje admitted he had accepted money to throw matches. Soon players from other countries, chiefly India and Pakistan, were implicated, among them Mohammad Azharuddin and Saleem Malik. Since then, allegations of fixing have cropped up sporadically, and it has been acknowledged that bookmakers and the underworld have been active in trying to influence cricket results. In 2010, scandal reared its head again when three leading Pakistan players were questioned by Scotland Yard and suspended by the ICC over spot-fixing charges

Feb 10, 2012: Westfield sentencing adjourned for a week | Feb 8, 2012: In praise of zero tolerance

The IPL Mess

The auction of two IPL franchises in March 2010 led to a string of allegations surrounding the league's operations and those of its stakeholders. The immediate fallout was the sacking of the league's creator Lalit Modi but the IPL has been at the centre of controversy ever since

Feb 9, 2012: BCCI, Sahara to meet on weekend | Feb 7, 2012: 'Secret tiebreak rule helped some franchises'

The spot-fixing case

In September 2010 the ICC suspended three Pakistan players - Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt - on allegations of what was later defined as spot-fixing. They were alleged to have carried out specific on-field actions, including bowling no-balls at pre-determined times, during the Lord's Test against England on the instance of a bookie. The three were later handed long bans by the ICC before the matter moved to the British Crown courts, where all three were convicted and sentenced to spells of detention.

Feb 3, 2012: PCB chairman wants Amir return | Feb 1, 2012: Mohammad Amir released from jail

Chucking

Controversy over illegitimate bowling actions - a burning issue in the 1950s - flared up again in the mid-to-late-1990s after Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled repeatedly in Australia. Since then a number of bowlers (Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Harbhajan Singh and Jermaine Lawson prominent among them) have undergone remedial work after having their actions reported.

Jan 25, 2012: Should we give the doosra a little leeway? | Aug 7, 2011: The 15-degree rule

Australian cricket under review

Australia lost more than a Test series when the Ashes were surrendered to England in January 2010. The overall health of Australian cricket was called into serious question by an unprecedented three innings defeats in five Test matches, leading to a review of the national team. Also up for debate was the state of cricket's administration, as the Cricket Australia board maintained an archaic structure with 19th-century origins.

Jan 23, 2012: 'Players have been challenged and have stood up well' | Dec 22, 2011: Rod Marsh to coach the coaches