Is ‘Pommy bastard’ racist?
After the ICC’s report about racism in Australian crowds, Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald about whether spectators will be able to call next year’s tourists “Pommy bastards” .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
After the ICC’s report about racism in Australian crowds, Trevor Marshallsea writes in the Sydney Morning Herald about whether spectators will be able to call next year’s tourists “Pommy bastards”.
It seems the answer depends on who you ask, or perhaps on when you ask it … As James Sutherland [Cricket Australia’s chief executive] fielded questions, he was asked whether spectators might be ejected from grounds for shouting "Pommy bastard" at an English player. "I would have thought so, yeah. I would have thought if it is regarded as a racist comment, then yes," said Mr Sutherland, later adding: "We need to be very sensitive to it."
However, The Surfer is not convinced Bill Woodfull, the gentlemanly captain, was the source of the quote to Douglas Jardine at the end of the story.
Robert Craddock reports in The Courier-Mail Cricket Australia is expected to push for tough new fines to fix the crowd problem.
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo