India claim racial abuse, CA launches probe with police

India's Ravichandran Ashwin has alleged the crowd abuse targeting young fast bowler Mohammed Siraj at the SCG today was racially motivated and the venue has a history of "nasty" behaviour from spectators that he has experienced across four tours to Australia.

Ashwin, a senior member of the Indian team which has lodged a formal complaint about crowd behaviour during the third Vodafone Series Test with the on-field umpires, also noted match officials advised the tourists they were to bring any such abuse immediately to their attention, as happened today.

Ashwin's stinging critique – which he added seemed endemic to Sydney and not so noticeable at venues for the previous two Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne – came as Cricket Australia launched an investigation in parallel with New South Wales Police into the incident that brought play to a halt for almost 10 minutes at the SCG this afternoon.

Shortly before tea on day four, 26-year-old Siraj – playing just his second Test match – reported to his captain Ajinkya Rahane he had been subjected to verbal abuse from members of the crowd in the concourse section of the Brewongle Stand.

Image Id: 86BA20D7AF204AD5A06B8134051C1680 Image Caption: Siraj talks to Australia's Tim Paine // Getty

Clearly distressed by the incident, Siraj walked from his fielding position near the boundary with arms raised and play was stopped as the India team – as well as Australia captain Tim Paine, who was batting at the time – formed a huddle.

They spoke with field umpires Paul Reiffel and Paul Wilson, who in turn liaised with on-ground security operators and members of NSW Police in the crowd in an attempt to identify the source of the verbal abuse.

"This is my fourth tour to Australia and Sydney, especially here, we've had a few experiences in the past," Ashwin told a media conference this evening with India 2-98 and needing a further 309 runs for victory on tomorrow's final day.

"I think one or two times the (India) players have reacted and got into trouble, and that's not because of the player it's been because of the way the crowd has been speaking, especially the people on the lower tier of the stands.

"They have been quite nasty, they have been hurling abuse as well.

"But this time they've actually gone up step higher and used racial abuse, and there was an official complaint that we lodged yesterday and the umpires also mentioned that we must bring it to their notice as it happens on the field.

"Then they will be able to take action.

Image Id: 258CFB0D413C480D96893953DD82370A Image Caption: NSW Police in the stands at the SCG // Getty

"It is definitely not acceptable in this day and age where we've evolved as a society and I think sometimes this roots back to the upbringing and the way one sees.

"Adelaide and Melbourne wasn't as bad, but this has been a continual thing at Sydney.

"I have personally experienced it as well.

"They do tend to get nasty, I don't know why or for what reason.

"I was quite surprised that some sections of the crowd continuously did it and there was not mates around them that pulled them up for it.

"Disappointing is actually a very, very mild word.

"This must definitely be dealt (with) an iron fist and we must make sure it doesn't happen again."

Cricket Australia confirmed tonight a number of spectators were interviewed by police and ground officials and ejected from the stadium and that a joint inquiry would be mounted by CA and NSW Police to investigate the nature of allegations made by the India team "to the fullest extent".

Australia men's team coach Justin Langer expressed his disappointment at the incidents and CA's Head of Integrity and Security Sean Carroll extended an apology to the Indian team.

"The abuse of cricketers by crowd members is not acceptable,” Carroll said in a statement released this evening.

Image Id: 5F39E378C4264DF2AC99CD6536BC471D Image Caption: CA's Head of Integrity and Security Sean Carroll speaks to an Indian official // Getty

"We thank the Indian team for their vigilance in reporting today’s incident, which we are now in the process of investigating.

"A number of spectators were interviewed by NSW Police and subsequently removed from the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

"While we await the outcome of the investigation by NSW Police, CA has launched its own inquiry into the matter.

"It is most regrettable that an otherwise excellent Test match contested in tremendous spirit by two friendly rivals has been tarnished by the actions of a small number of spectators over the past two days.

"As hosts, we once again apologise to the Indian team."

Langer, whose team was subjected to sustained verbal hostility from crowds inside and outside venues during last year's Ashes campaign in the UK (as revealed in the documentary series 'The Test') said tonight the abuse of players by fans should not be tolerated.

He said the Australia players and coaching staff had spoken about today's incident during the tea break, although he remained unsure of what was discussed among the huddle that formed on the field or the nature of the abuse allegedly hurled at Siraj.

Image Id: 60F20091FA49447287E78A40CB72B7A8 Image Caption: Ashwin leaves the SCG on Sunday evening // Getty

"It's upsetting and it's disappointing," Langer said this evening.

"It's one of my greatest pet hates in life that people think they can come to a sporting event – whether it's cricket or any code – and pay their money and think they can say whatever they like.

"I've hated it as a player, I hate it as a coach, we've seen it in different parts of the world and it's really sad to see it happen in Australia.

"We were in England last year and some of our guys have felt it before, and there's nothing pleasant about it.

"I'm not exactly sure what was said out there between Tim (Paine) and the Indians, but I think it was a show of support that we don't condone any of that really, really bad behaviour."

Langer said the Australia players and staff were intent on learning more about racial discrimination and related issues in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that was recognised in sporting competitions around the world last year.

Image Id: 488EC25891174F63BD27441238DCA2E0 Image Caption: The two teams in a Barefoot Circle at the start of the tour // Getty

CA has also introduced the Barefoot Circle ceremony prior to men's and women's matches at international and domestic level to create greater awareness of Indigenous culture and history in Australia.

"It's something the team is exploring and learning, and we're being educated," Langer said this evening.

"And the more you get educated and the more you understand, the more sickening it is when you hear of racial discrimination as has been alleged today.

"It makes you feel very sad when you hear people are subjected to that and when you start getting educated as to what's happened in the history of Australia, you can understand why it's so hurtful."

The International Cricket Council also condemned the reported incidents at the SCG, and offered Cricket Australia "all necessary support in investigating the incidents"

"There is no place for discrimination in our sport and we are incredibly disappointed that a small minority of fans may think that this abhorrent behaviour is acceptable," ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said in a statement issued tonight.

"We have a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy in place that members have to abide by and ensure is adhered to by fans, and we welcome the action taken by ground authorities and Cricket Australia today.

"We will provide Cricket Australia and the relevant authorities with our full support in any ensuing investigation as we will not tolerate any racism in our sport."

Ashwin said he and Rahane, along with vice-captain Rohit Sharma had alerted the umpires and ICC match referee David Boon to Siraj's initial complaint relating to verbal abuse after incidents on Saturday.

He also claimed the crowd behaviour reported during this Test revived memories of his experiences on previous visits to Australia.

"If I take myself back to my first tour in 2011-12, I had no clue about what racial abuse is and how you can be made to feel small in front of so many people," Ashwin said this evening.

"And people actually laugh at you when you get abused, and other people laugh along when these things are happening.

"When I stood at the boundary line, you wanted to stand another 10 yards in to keep yourself away from these things.

"But as we've strode on and been on more and more tours, we've learned that these things are definitely not acceptable.

"Nowadays the boys are much better equipped.

"Even someone like Siraj who's come in new, he knows there's a line that someone cannot overstep and even if it is from (beyond) the boundary line it must be met the way it was met.

"And we must say, we were all quite happy those people were evicted."

Vodafone Test Series v India 2020-21

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

India Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan

First Test: Australia won by eight wickets

Second Test: India won by eight wickets

Third Test: January 7-11, SCG, 10.30am AEDT

Fourth Test: January 15-19, Gabba, 11am AEDT