Fed: Test match crowd on best behaviour

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2007
Fed: Test match crowd on best behaviour

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 AAP - Any concerns that the racism which marred Australia's cricket
tour to India earlier this year might be repeated when the two countries met on day one
of the first Test at the MCG today have come to nothing.

Police who had been specially briefed on the issue said they hadn't received any reports
of racist behaviour among the crowd of more than 65,000.

The officer in charge of the MCG operations said he had heard of no racist sledging
of players or rival supporters with harmony prevailing in even the most notorious section
of the vast ground.

"It's been a very good day as far as relations between Indian supporters and Australian
supporters," said Superintendent Stephen Leane.

"Even in the middle of the bay 13 area there are a number of Indian flags."

Indian crowds had hurled racist taunts at the Australian team during the one day series
in the subcontinent, particularly targeting Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

Racism had also been a problem on the latest South African tour of Australia, the International
Cricket Council subsequently setting up an inquiry into crowd behaviour.

Supt Leane said today's crowd had been as well behaved in general as any in recent years.

"It's been a very good day for the first day of a Boxing Day Test.

"We've had limited issues in the crowd."

He said no arrests had been made and only around 40 patrons had to be ejected.

"We've got a small element who want to come to the cricket and misbehave," he said.

"We've been accommodating those people."

Supt Leane said most of the ejections were of patrons throwing objects into the air
while trying to get a Mexican wave going.

AAP mh/cjh/de

KEYWORD: CRICKET CROWD

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