The spectators’ behaviour at the Gabba in Brisbane during the fourth Test match between India and Australia needs to be condemned in the strongest words. It is evident that the Australians refuse to learn and in every series that has been held Down Under, some incident or the other always takes place. Mohammad Siraj, the upcoming bowler who has left his impact on the Tests, is the latest target. He has been subject of racial comments as well as abuse, and unless the Australian authorities act in a stern manner and initiate action against the guilty persons, nothing is bound to change.
Any team that has visited the continent has been a victim of sledging since that is the way the game is played there. However, since the past few years, the Indians have been as aggressive, and have retaliated in their own manner. The animosity amongst players has come down, largely because many leading cricketers from around the world play together in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and have thus established cordial relations amongst themselves. This does not mean that the players do not compete with each other fiercely since as professionals, they are expected to play the game, both in its spirit and with the objective of winning. Even the England team has had some forgettable experiences there and the episode involving two former captains, Ian Chappel and Ian Botham, is often quoted in cricket circles as an example of distasteful comments that get generated in the heat of the moment.
The cricket and sports associations in Australia need to be held accountable like they were several decades ago in South Africa. Despite being the best team of its time, the South Africans were banned from competing in Tests. For sports lovers, it would have been a dream to watch them pitted against the West Indies, by far the most successful side for a long period. Thus, Dr Ali Bacher, Barry Richards, Eddie Barlow, the Pollock brothers, Proctor and many talented and gifted players of their era, never got to display their cricketing prowess on an international platform. It is another matter that subsequently, the South Africans after relaxing their one-sided racial laws, became a cricketing power under Hansie Cronje and are regarded as amongst the toughest competitors of the game.
Racialism has existed in sports for a long time and what prompted Olympic gold medallist Cassius Clay to become Mohammad Ali is a story that shall never be forgotten. The Mexico Olympics in 1968 witnessed unusual scenes when two American Black athletes after their victory flashed the Black power sign while on the Podium. Indians have never rubbed anyone the wrong way on the sports field except when Harbhajan Singh was accused of making fun of Andrew Symonds, leading to the Monkeygate affair. Fortunately, the issue was sorted out.
The Australian government must not allow the Indians to be made victims of any further abuse and should enforce their laws if there is any infringement. Australia may enjoy the advantage of wresting the Border-Gavaskar trophy, but it would be of no use if they have violated the spirit in which cricket should be played.