Wicket to Wicket

A strange phenomenon took place on England’s recent tour of Pakistan. During the first Test at Multan, and replicated thereafter across the country, there were scores of home supporters dressing up in English replica kit and red-and-white face-paint, and cheering on the visiting team.

Pakistani fans have received a bad press in recent years, largely as a consequence of the unruly scenes during the 2001 NatWest Series in England, when makeshift barriers had to be erected to prevent their over-exuberant fans from storming the pitch. But place these same folk on their home patch, and they form the very model of hospitality.

Take Karachi, for instance. A city in which Western cricket teams fear to tread, and where England were subjected to a fearful mauling in their one-off one-day match two months ago. The behaviour of the fans in the stands could hardly have been further removed from the perceived image of the city – and indeed of the country as a whole.

I find watching cricket from the stands is an awkward experience, and not because of the seats or the comfort of the press box. As a naïve child and teen the banter between the players and spectators seemed fun, but now when I’m in the crowd I spend it worrying about how the parents, children, pensioners and overseas visitors are enjoying their day. It started at the Gabba during the 1998-99 Ashes Test when I was at university and an elderly couple was regularly spilt with beer. We pretended not to see it and it was horrible – the damp grandparents and the lack of reaction.

This summer’s issue is the overflow of racist taunts and it’s time to stop turning uncomfortably away. South Africa’s players have reported being called “kaffirs” since the first Test in Perth in December and the unwelcome treatment has continued through the current VB Series, resulting in the ICC announcing an investigation into spectator behaviour at Australian grounds. Last week the Sri Lankans were called black c**** in Sydney and Adelaide, although no official complaint has come from team management. Each year the isolated incidents bank up into an account that grows more unhealthy by the summer.

Blaming the South African expats for the troubles is too easy, especially for anybody who has spent a third session in the old hill areas of Australian grounds. These problems are not limited to Australia, but this month it is our problem and the world is watching how we deal with it. A dob-in-a-racist-chanter might be one way, and providing general guidelines on what constitutes abuse might help with the community arrests. (Although spreading the information could make it worse.) There are certainly enough security guards at grounds who spend most of their time popping beach balls and avoiding verbal and liquid sprays themselves. It’s time to spike racism and appalling crowd behaviour so watching the game can be a more comfortable experience.

Welcome to our third discussion and debate on Wicket to Wicket. After deliberating Indian cricket and the use of technology in umpiring, we turn our attention to the thorny subject of crowd behaviour.