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Too much jeer, not enough cheer from Aussie crowds

Roar Rookie
22nd January, 2014
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England bowler Stuart Broad. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Rookie
22nd January, 2014
7

Stuart Broad has been England’s most serviceable player this Ashes tour, without a doubt.

Some suggest that it’s a remarkable feat, given the hostile and nasty reception he’s unfairly received since entering the country.

But does a berating Australian crowd have any credence or cause anymore?

Australians over recent years seem to welcome the opportunity to scorn and ridicule far too eagerly, be-it ourselves or opponent.

As unbelievable as it may seem today, a Gabba crowd only a few summers ago gave our national captain, Michael Clarke, a horrid greeting as he walked out to bat.

It was a shameful moment and a horrible advertisement for Australian sport.

There is no doubt the end of Ricky Ponting’s captaincy stirred many emotions among the cricketing public, but the reluctance to give Clarke a fair go was unjustified. Remember, too, an unsuspecting Adam Gilchrist was jeered and taunted at the beginning of his national career (again at the Gabba).

We were fixated with the notion that national icon, Ian Healy, would be behind the stumps forever and had no peer.

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Yet it wasn’t long before Gilchrist won us over and had us wondering how we ever coped without him.

The outspoken masses seem to be fascinated in hanging onto the old and not welcoming the new, until proven worthy.

This attitude is not exclusive to cricket. We need only look as far as the Australian Open tennis to find another young sporting talent finding it hard to win over the locals.

It’s true that Bernard Tomic hasn’t done himself many favours during his short journey, but the vocal home crowd expressed disdain, not disappointment, when he was forced to retire from his first round match against Rafael Nadal.

Pat Rafter, the eternal crowd favourite, would never receive such scepticism in a similar situation. He’s a proven champ, so we support unconditionally.

Tomic, on the other hand, has the unenviable task of winning the Australian public’s hearts. His support is massively conditional until he does.

So one feels Stuart Broad lost no sleep this last couple of months worrying about what was to be said, written or thought of him. Parochialism and passion are too often morphing into petulance and tantrums.

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Jeering Australian audiences have become the norm. In fact, in a similar way to Clarke and Gilchrist in the past, it seems Broad has used ill-tempered spectators to his advantage and had, individually, a very respectable tour.

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