England cricket supremo Giles Clarke has pleaded with fans to stop booing Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the Ashes series.
Ponting has been subjected to prolonged jeering and booing walking out to bat at Lord’s and Edgbaston, the English crowds enjoying the opportunity to try to get under his skin.
But England and Wales Cricket Broad chairman Clarke has written in the Headingley match program that Ponting has earned the respect and courtesy of the crowd and that the game may never see his like again.
He asks supporters to respect both teams in the critical clash starting Friday with England leading 1-0 with two matches to play.
English cricket crowds have become more raucous in the last two Ashes tours as the home side has asserted itself after years of demoralising results against Australia.
Ponting maintained that he wasn’t bothered by the crowd’s cold response to him.
“I am told that some people have been upset about the fact that some English fans were booing me, but I thought it was a terrific atmosphere to play in,” he wrote in his column in The Times.
And Australian middle order batsman Marcus North said the rest of the players weren’t bothered by the vocal crowds.
“It’s part and parcel of the game now,” North said.
“A lot of us get booed out there. That’s the home-ground advantage, I guess.
“The atmosphere when playing Test cricket here is great, even though, without a doubt, the crowd is into us.
“When England come and play in Australia, its exactly the same for them.”
Rowdy
Guest
What's annoying English people in general is the hypocritical whining about the Spirit of the Game, which was so comprehensively trampled by the Aus teams of the last 15 years or so, now being called on to provide some sort of defence against them getting some it back. Especially delightful is the sight of the littlest hypocrite of all, Langer, complaining about the crowd's behaviour. Lads, if you can't take it, don't dish it.
davido
Guest
The barmy army have some videos on youtube targeting ponting. For them to say they are not is a load of bollocks. This sort of stuff is really pathetic. Personally i use to cringe when the chant 'Hadlee's a wanker' used to go up. It didnt do us much good then and I dont think it is doing much good for them now.
Colin N
Guest
It's probably only a bit of banter, but considering this is likely to be his last Ashes series in England (although never say never), and considering he has been one of the greatest batters to have ever played the game, I feel he deserves a bit more respect, and I hope come the last test at the Oval, he gets a standing ovation from the crowd.