Just a few days after the shameful racism incident in Sydney, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj got attacked by abuses again by some Aussie supporters on Day 1 at the final Test at Brisbane. Australia was batting first at the Gabba Test. They were in a comfortable position at the end of the first day’s play.
The hosts had put 274 on the board for the loss of five wickets. After a brilliant ton by Marnus Labuschagne, Tim Paine and Cameron Green finished the day unbeaten at stumps.
Mohammed Siraj was labelled a “bloody grub” by members of the Gabba crowd less than a week after the abuse allegations which marred the Sydney Test
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Reports are coming from Australia that at the time Siraj was fielding on the boundary, one or two people from the crowd called Siraj “A Bloody Grub”. However, the Indian fast bowler did not catch what was being said at him.
Tim Paine requested the crowd to respect the Indian players:
Despite the Aussie captain, Tim Paine’s public request for the crowd to keep respect for all the players at the stadium, some of them could not keep their abuses to themselves. They were reactive as ever.
Paine claimed before the start of the fourth and final Test that it is always a difficult thing to play at Brisbane. That is not just for the opposition but even for their own players. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is well balanced as the final Test will be the decider.
“Yeah, it [the Gabba] is right up there, no doubt about that. It is a hard place to come and play cricket. Even for Tasmanians and Victorians to come here, it can be challenging to adjust to the different bounce and speed of the wicket. It is something that has been to the advantage of Australian teams for a long time.”
Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj faced racist abuse in the third test:
Mohammed Siraj, who is playing his first International Test series for India, faced racist comments. That was in the third Test at Sydney along with Jasprit Bumrah, though things were calmed down. The play was suspended for some time before the culprits were shown the exit door. A fan at Brisbane told Sydney Morning Herald that Washington Sundar and Siraj were being targeted by some Australian supporters. That was using a chant quite similar to what was said at the SCG.
A fan named Kate was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald-
“The guys behind me have been calling and shouting, both Washington sundar and mohammed Siraj grubs. It started after they targetted Siraj. It was a chant similar to the SCG one (in which fans sang to the tune of Que Sera, Sera but substituted the lyrics with Que Shiraz, Shiraz). This time it was Siraj. I suspect it is not a coincidence that it is Siraj being targeted post the SCG stuff. At one point, a man in that section was heard yelling, ‘Siraj, give us a wave, give us a wave, give us a wave. Siraj, you bloody grub’.”
It is something to look forward to the second day, what CA officials can do now. That is to stop such nonsense at the cricket field.
