'Nasty things have been said': Boucher on Aus-SA Relations

[KB]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/s...283953354.html

Stick it to Australia - Boucher
February 20, 2006

MARK Boucher is certain to spark a fresh war of words between South Africa and Australia following a verbal assault on the world No.1 side.

The fiery Proteas wicketkeeper said he had lost respect for members of the Australian side and called on his home crowds to make life difficult for them in the one-day and Test series.

Boucher's comments come after his side left Australia earlier this month with its tails between its legs after losing their three-Test series 2-0 and failing to qualify for the tri-series finals.

"Nasty things have been said," Boucher told The Wisden Cricketer magazine.

"We did share a few beers after the Test series. But a lot of guys' eyes, maybe on both sides, have been opened.

"I think the beers that are drunk may be just for the sake of it, because that's the right thing to do. I'm not going to mention names but I have lost respect for some of their players.

"If they want to say the same thing about us, no problem. But we live in South Africa and they live in Australia, we don't have to put up with them and they don't have to put up with us.

"It's do or die on the field and hopefully we can keep the rest to a minimum."

The 29-year-old said there would be no sympathy from his teammates if the South African crowds stirred the Australians up in the five-match one-day series and three-Test series.

"I hope our public give them a bit of stick, because we've taken a serious amount," Boucher said.

"In the past our crowds haven't been too great with them but, trust me, we're not going to sit back and say, 'shame, poor things'."

AAP

[spel]

Its massive hypocrisy, but oh well.

[Oxy]

My heart bleeds for Ponting & co...

[Kamranz]

I'm supporting South Africa, I hope the crowd kicks Australia I hope ricky pontying gets called a cheater 4 using dodgy graphite bat!!!

[Big Daddy]

wasnt it smith who got involved in the war of the words? wasnt it smith who dished it out that warne has a regret that ponting stole his job .... the aussy captaincy? what do u expect if u scream out such garbage......damn these cry babies.

[cornelius]

id just like to see the likes of nel and lee getting up the batsmens noses (but at least lee usually comes up with the bowling to back it up :p ) and ofcourse some of the batsmen in these times love to respond in an...."aggresive" fashion haha dont really care who wins , as long as they play good cricket,whoever plays better and in a good spirit should win.

[Farhad]

Smith is the biggest troublemaker. This is the guy who went to berate and yell at Youhana when his madman Hall had shouldered the Pakistani! How else did the Saffies expect the Aussies to retaliate when Smith continued his childish antics even into the Aussie tour - he was asking for trouble and he got it in droves. The Saffie skipper is notorious for tasteless remarks and actions - heck, he even called Vaughan, the opposing skipper a queer!

Pretty innocent boy Boucher is now cunningly doing his best to exhort and incite the Saffie crowds to come to the rescue of the beleagured and outclassed cricketers - big-mouthed yet faint-hearted players who could not hack it in cricketing terms or in verbal jousts.

Expect yet another Aussie demolition exercise of South Africa.

[cornelius]

actually your right, especially that youhana hall incidnent and ehs always having a go whenver they play the english,lets see how much he talks when lee is dishing out the chin music.but there r some decent guys in the aouthafrcican side over the years,donald was....very aggressive but it was cool....kirsten was ok,it was sad how shoaib nailed him real hard,i wouldnt have felt as bad if it was smith...but no that was gruesome,anyways there are guys on both sides who wont exactly come out with cupcakes for the other side.could get nasty,but will definitely make for good entertainment,lets just hope the proteas wont be down on their knees throughout the series,at the moment the only dishing out to the aussies is gonna come from the crowd :p boucher shouldt have said this really........meesna

[cornelius]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/rsav...ry/237927.html


Ponting tips 'worst' crowd behaviour

Cricinfo staff

February 20, 2006


Australia's players have been told to prepare for the most unpleasant crowd behaviour of their careers during the tour to South Africa. As the squad left for the six-week trip today, Ricky Ponting expected the conditions to be more hostile than on previous eventful visits.

The South African reaction following the three-Test series in Australia either side of Christmas, which Australia won 2-0, will add to the tension after incidents of racist crowd taunts throughout the tour. "I think it will be," Ponting said in The Australian when asked if the crowds would make it the most unpleasant overseas tour. "It certainly has been in the past when we have been there. At the Wanderers [in Johannesburg] when we were there for a previous tour we had to get a tunnel erected over the players' walkway to stop people spitting at us and pouring drinks over us."

Ponting said this trip would carry an extra element after the home series, which included constant big statements from Graeme Smith and a competitive contest despite the end result. "There will certainly be a bit more of an edge to this one," he said. "We are aware that our arrival will be eagerly awaited and we understand that it's going to be a very tough tour, both on and off the ground. But having said that, it's always an enjoyable tour because of the spirit between the two teams and the fact that South Africa are always incredibly competitive."

Australian players have rated South Africa and New Zealand as the worst for crowd abuse and James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, expected the team to be a target. "There are always countries in the world where your players are going to cop more abuse than others," he told the paper, "and South Africa tends to be higher on that list for us."

South Africa, who failed to make the VB Series finals, will be boosted by the likely returns of Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis after they left the Australia tour with injury. "They will be a different proposition over there," Ponting said. "They'll get some of their players back and a couple of guys which will help their side out a lot.

"With Nel and Ntini fit it will make a big difference, as will Kallis coming back in because he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world." The tour starts with a Twenty20 game on Friday.

[KB]

This is the guy who went to berate and yell at Youhana when his madman Hall had shouldered the Pakistani!

Hall's act was one of the more disgraceful things I have seen on a cricket field. Smith's reaction of pouring petrol in an already inflamed situation was also a total disgrace.

The South Africans - not exactly the most clean mouthed team in the world - also demonstarted immaturity by getting Akthar banned for one Test.

Their conduct on that whole tour was lamentable and as captain Smith has to take much of the responsibility.

[James]

I wont deny a lot of the Aussie players are shits, but fatty big-chin (Smith) hardly sets the best example to his players either. Like Warne said, if Smith got an egg on his face it would be boiled in 2 minutes. I cannot stand Smith.

[Saj]

The way to look at this is, that the behaviour of the Aussie crowds and players affected the performances of most of the South African players. However the behaviour of the South African crowds and players, will only act as a spur to the Aussies to perform even better.

This is one of the things that amazes me about Murali. He goes to Australia, he knows what to expect, so why not shut them up by grabbing some wickets, instead he starts moaning about the crowds, who in turn increase their abuse, knowing full well that its affecting his cricket.

[Team Slayer]

Saffie crowd should be careful. Last time they heckled Gilly (for the Slater and Gilly's wife rumors), they got spanked for a run-a-ball double ton.

Heckle the Aussies at your own risk. Best way to shut 'em up is to beat them, like England did.

[Big Daddy]

for the first time i will be supporting australia, i totally hate the african players for their crying antics.

[cornelius]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy for the first time i will be supporting australia, i totally hate the african players for their crying antics.

true,now that ive been reminded of the youhana hall incident,and also nels antics on the tour to pak,i mean seriously even the aussies can be nasty but this was the worst......hope the aussies kik their @$$.cmon lee give it em hard.as shoaib akhtar said when told about the then pak coach of the A team told him "thats sachin tendulkar in the hall,youll have to bowl to the best batsman in the world" to whioch our dear ol cshobby replied "let him come,ill show him what fast bowling is all about" this was the common wealth tournament,they never faced each other but when shoaib did eventually bowl to sachin for the first time....well he showed em

[TaxiDriver]

Originally Posted by Whippy squash I wont deny a lot of the Aussie players are shits, but fatty big-chin (Smith) hardly sets the best example to his players either. Like Warne said, if Smith got an egg on his face it would be boiled in 2 minutes. I cannot stand Smith.

I'm glad Smith gets under your skin!

Because for years N Hussain preached and encouraged bad sportsmanship! But I never heard any English commentator and/or anyone mention it then.....it's like the pot calling the kettle black!!!

[cornelius]

Originally Posted by TaxiDriver I'm glad Smith gets under your skin! Because for years N Hussain preached and encouraged bad sportsmanship! But I never heard any English commentator and/or anyone mention it then.....it's like the pot calling the kettle black!!!

dude theyve always been players like that in every team,but smith takes the cake really.

[TaxiDriver]

Originally Posted by cornelius dude theyve always been players like that in every team,but smith takes the cake really.

I agree but not completely. AND I'm also GLAD Smith annoys you as well!

Because there have always been players like that (less in certain teams and more in others) but NOT captains! Especially those who encouraged dirty tactics and verbals..

Now all I see is certain teams jump and complain as soon as they get a taste of their own medicine!

[Gilly]

"No matter what South Africa throws at us," Langer said, "it's going to be child's play compared to what we got in England. I've never felt as intimidated, if that's the right word, as we did in England [during the Ashes]." Langer might have been feeling in a punchy mood when he responded to Boucher as he had enjoyed a two-round boxing session with Vic Darchinyan, a world flyweight champion, earlier in the day. Stepping into the ring is a regular cross-training exercise for Langer, who is a martial arts black belt, and he said the experience was similar to a Test.

Langer thinks boucher is a sook.

[Gilly]

Originally Posted by TaxiDriver I agree but not completely. AND I'm also GLAD Smith annoys you as well! Because there have always been players like that (less in certain teams and more in others) but NOT captains! Especially those who encouraged dirty tactics and verbals.. Now all I see is certain teams jump and complain as soon as they get a taste of their own medicine!

Not captains you say.

So Hussain didnt employ dirty tactics, Ranatunga was another plus Cronjie, chappel, Richards, vaughan, come to think of it almost every captain indulged in dirty tactics because its their job.

[James]

Every captain will do whatever it takes to win - sorry but cricket isnt much of a "gentlemen's game" anymore, no matter what some people say. You get the odd moments like Flintoff and Lee hugging at Edgbaston, but dirty tactics and gamesmanship run rife in cricket now, and theres nothing anyone can do about it. They all do it.

Like others have said, Smith goes beyond a dirty cricketer and just takes the biscuit, and its not like getting under peoples skin helps SA's results either - whether he does it deliberately or not. Smith's captaincy has been terrible for awhile now.

[TaxiDriver]

Originally Posted by Whippy squash Every captain will do whatever it takes to win - sorry but cricket isnt much of a "gentlemen's game" anymore, no matter what some people say. You get the odd moments like Flintoff and Lee hugging at Edgbaston, but dirty tactics and gamesmanship run rife in cricket now, and theres nothing anyone can do about it. They all do it. Like others have said, Smith goes beyond a dirty cricketer and just takes the biscuit, and its not like getting under peoples skin helps SA's results either - whether he does it deliberately or not. Smith's captaincy has been terrible for awhile now.

Don't think that I'm naive enough to beleive that cricket is a gentlemen's game. And I know that dirty tactics and gamesmanship run rife...they always have done...even as far back as Douglas Jardin (bodyline series!)!
We all know about the main objective for a captain is to win but without pushing the limits of gamesmanship.

The issue is not about captains and teams wanting to win, but about teams who become snitches and hypocritical when they see it happen to them. These teams are just being snydie and need to Shut Up and look at their own history before pointing fingers.

[TaxiDriver]

Originally Posted by Gilly Not captains you say. So Hussain didnt employ dirty tactics, Ranatunga was another plus Cronjie, chappel, Richards, vaughan, come to think of it almost every captain indulged in dirty tactics because its their job.

Within the concept of sportsmanship, it is NOT their job to use dirty tactics.

It is an individuals nature if he is that way inclined and from the names mentioned above, Hussain was a disrespectful, dirty captain.

[sherry]

Living in Australia, I can guarantee aussies are the most arrogant cricket team and the crowd are shockers. When ever the paks come down we get a lot of hammering and culture dispute with them. Hope the aussies get the hammering and the SA crowd really get into the Australian players and cop the crap what SA got .. Nitini really got hammered this time around… pointing.... the biggest cry baby on earth. IE crying about the run out during the ashes series….

[TaxiDriver]

Originally Posted by sherry Living in Australia, I can guarantee aussies are the most arrogant cricket team and the crowd are shockers. When ever the paks come down we get a lot of hammering and culture dispute with them. Hope the aussies get the hammering and the SA crowd really get into the Australian players and cop the crap what SA got .. Nitini really got hammered this time around… pointing.... the biggest cry baby on earth. IE crying about the run out during the ashes series….

Exactly!.....AND this has been going on for some time now! But it's only now (during the past few years) that it is being high-lighted!! HYPOCRISY as usual.

[Kurash]

Give us an example of this cultural dispute.

[Gasherbrum]

Originally Posted by Kurash Give us an example of this cultural dispute.

funny how some of our Aussie friends are smart enough to interpret the meaning of the farts that come out of Ricky Ponting's rear end, even when they're well away from the stump mics, yet ask for our help in such trivial matters. since a fan's personal experience is not enough, let me give you a reminder from Cricinfo :
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/colu...ry/235281.html

Increasing racist taunts at Australian grounds

Kicking out racism

Peter English

February 1, 2006


The treatment of racism in Australia is evident in the coverage of Queensland's The Courier-Mail today. The ICC's decision to send Goolam Vahanvati, India's solicitor-general, to investigate the appalling crowd behaviour at Australian grounds, including the state's main stadium in Brisbane, appeared on the sport section's third page. On the front cover John Howard, the prime minister, was telling television stations to watch their Ps and Qs, but mainly their Fs and Cs, when producing reality shows.

Vulgar language and the odd flash of skin during Big Brother is apparently too offensive for the many conservative viewers, but when it comes to colour the country is expert at clamming and covering up. An embarrassed Cricket Australia has had to ask the government, a coalition of the Liberal and National parties who have refused to apologise to the Aboriginals' stolen generation, for help punishing spectators yelling racist abuse at visiting sportsmen.

Stump microphones have been turned down so viewers aren't shocked by the players swearing, but the words in the stands this summer have been much more upsetting. South Africa have complained throughout the tour of racial taunts, which have resulted in a handful of offenders being ejected and the threat of future boycotts, and last week the Sri Lankans were targeted as "black c****" in Adelaide and Sydney. The mainstream theory condemns ex-pat South Africans for bringing in words like "kaffir", as if the only place the pure locals have seen them is in cookbooks next to vine leaves.

"Don't blame Australians for the racist remarks," a reader wrote to Cricinfo's feedback this week. "They were made by South Africans now living in Australia." This popular comment misses the problem that has been pushed underground for decades.

A bay of supporters was decked in patriotic gold shirts at the SCG last summer to watch Australia play Pakistan. Closer inspection of their garb revealed a slogan including the words "Pakis" and "towelheads". The year before Indian supporters were upset to be called "coolies" at Adelaide and in response to the Barmy Army's 2002-03 chants the locals fans responded with "I'd rather be a **** than a Pom". All were probably expat South Africans.

At the Twenty20 international in Brisbane earlier this month a family visiting from Perth wanted only to watch Ricky Ponting bat. They saw him and were excited, but they also heard a group of men behind them speaking quietly about the "monkeys" in South Africa's team before a fight broke out a few rows further back. The punching man was thrown out but the group of old-world attitudes remained. Before the 2003 World Cup Darren Lehmann was banned for yelling "black c****" in a Gabba dressing room after being run out against Sri Lanka. Lehmann's supporters said he was definitely not a racist, but a "good bloke" who was affected by the heat of the moment.

Is there a pattern here, or are there just a lot of South Africans in Australia? The attitudes seem so ingrained they go unnoticed by the users or their sympathisers. The rest of the world sees the damage through international coverage of the recent beach riots at Cronulla, the Tampa boat crisis over refugees in 2001, the policies of the popular One Nation party in the 1990s and its cricket grounds.

However, national immaturity prevents Australia from recognising the racism even though terms such as "Lebs", "blacks" and "Abos" appear in many conversations. Yesterday a sports-loving gentleman at a club morning tea wondered what all the fuss was about: "They've been called kaffirs all their life, why does it matter now?"

English football set up a Let's Kick Racism Out of Football group in 1993 and a similar exercise would be valuable in cricket as a tool of education and understanding. Tim Cahill, the Australian midfielder at Everton, holds a prominent position on their website. "Racism is not only unacceptable, it is criminal," Cahill says. At best this summer's offenders are guilty of gross ignorance, at worst they are racist. Cahill's description must become the standard line.

Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo

[Kurash]

DIdn't know about that towelhead thing v Paks. :/

[Kurash]

Still, its not like its a cultural thing. Idiots in the crowd yes, but cultural implies some sort of wholesale differences..

[Kurash]

Another thing i am sick of, is stupid left-wing journalists of English's ilk badmouthing our name to the world, when they are just pushing their own agendas and bias..