Aus Crowd Reaction: Better to SA This Year than India Last Year

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Sreelata YellamrazuJan 20 2009

by Trevor Chesterfield

What is amazing has been the Australian public's reaction. Three years ago, racial slurs taunted the team as they lost the series 2-0.

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'We were wondering, where were you guys three years ago, when we were being thumped,' Arthur smiled when asked an opinion of the change in public reaction. 'Back then the Australians had their foot on us, and wanted to keep us under water while we were drowning. We've been amazed at the turnaround in attitudes.'

There have been congratulations from all quarters: the hotel receptionist, the concierge, taxi drivers, barmen, waiters, the public, too. It has left the team stunned by the reaction.

As Arthur explains, 'In the past, an inferiority complex it has been suggested played a massive role. Australia swagger around and mouth off how they were better than we are. Now we play with passion, show them we have a better side and are mentally stronger.'

Australian public's displeasure with their all-conquering cricketers bubbled to the surface last year after the seriously rancorous third Test of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground against the Indians last year. Many not only felt India were robbed; what they also saw was gratuitous, boorish behaviour and triumphalism and it upset the Australian public.

While they enjoy seeing their team win, they had no appetite at seeing Ricky Ponting and his players rubbing the Indians' noses in it after they won the match late on the last day and they let them know it. The old Ugly Australian image of the Ian Chappell years re-emerged.

The enmity between the two sides was tangible and when India won the next match in Perth their players bounded on the field waving flags and whooping and hollering. It was a display that wasn't appreciated by the Australian media or public either, but it was tolerated given what had taken place before from their own players.

So when South Africa won the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, thereby inflicting the first home Test series defeat on an Australian side for 17 years, and their celebrations of such a momentous occurrence appeared so muted in comparison, there was much praise and appreciation.

Instead the players shook hands patted each other on the back, while Morne Morkel, Paul Harris and AB de Villiers went to South African supporters in the crowd, shook hands and exchanged high fives.

Those who were there to watch appreciated the frankness displayed by the Proteas as a gesture of general goodwill. The Aussies were given another lesson in sportsmanship and it wasn't lost on the public as the television cameras showed the type of humility Ponting's side has so not been able to match.

Note: Prior permission has sought from the author before republication of the above article.

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