February 3, 1974

Derek Underwood bowled the last ball of the day. Bernard Julien pushed it down the pitch. From the non-striker’s end, Alvin Kallicharran, unbeaten on 142, started on his way to the pavilion. And Tony Greig, fielding at silly-point, grabbed the ball at silly mid-off and threw down the stumps.

Umpire Douglas Sang-Hue had no choice but to give the batsman out. In spite of the fact that Alan Knott had already taken off the bails at the striker’s end in his hurry to get back to the dressing room.

In Guyana or Jamaica such action would perhaps have sparked a riot. Especially with Greig’s South African roots, which were blatantly underlined by the local newspapers the following day.

Reactions at Trinidad were not that extreme, but Garry Sobers thought it would be better if he himself drove Greig back to the hotel.

A lot of discussion followed, and the following day Kallicharran was allowed to resume his innings. He went on to score 158.

Believe it or not, it would prove to be the relatively minor one among the two big clashes Greig would end up having with the West Indians.