India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed that touring players are more likely to receive abuse at the Sydney Cricket Ground than at other Australian Test venues.
Ashwin, who is on his fourth Test tour of Australia, made his comments after the fourth day’s play at the SCG where a group of spectators were evicted from the ground following a complaint from the India team. This came a day after India alleged that racist abuse had been sent the way of quicks Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
Speaking after the close of play, Ashwin said: “This is my fourth tour to Australia and in Sydney, especially, we have had a few experiences even in the past. I think one or two times even the players have reacted and have got into trouble in the past, and that’s not because of the player, it is actually because of the way the crowd has been speaking, especially the people on the lower tiers of the stands.
“They have been quite nasty, they have been hurling abuses as well, but this is a time they have gone one step ahead and used racial abuse. There was an official complaint lodged yesterday, and the umpires also mentioned it to us that we must bring it to their notice as soon as it happens on the field and then they will be able to take action.
“It is definitely not acceptable in this day and age. We have seen a lot, right? We have evolved as a society…This must definitely be dealt with an iron fist. And we must make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
“Personally I think Adelaide and Melbourne weren’t as bad. But this has been a continual thing at Sydney. I have experienced it as well. They do tend to get nasty. I don’t know why and for what reason. Unless and until it is dealt with, people don’t find the reason to look at it in a different way. In fact I was quite surprised that some sections of the crowd continuously did it and there were no mates around them who pull them up for it. It definitely had to be dealt with. Disappointing is actually a very, very mild word, I must say.”
