Mohammed Siraj SCG abuse has no place in cricket, his refusal to accept it a real fight for change

For more than a century abusive behaviour went unchecked at Australian cricket grounds as if it was a slapstick sideshow.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 10: Mohammed Siraj of India stops play to make a formal complaint about some spectators in the bay behind his fielding position during day four of the Third Test match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 10, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Watching a Test match come to a standstill in Australia because of crowd abuse was distressing in one way but strangely comforting in another.

Cricket has simply had enough of racist crowd behaviour - and not a moment too soon.

That fast bowler Mohammed Siraj should be taunted with racial abuse at the SCG – as he allegedly was on days two and three of the Test - is an absolute disgrace at any time but his current plight gives it an extra layer of shame.

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There was a feeling that the day four verbals which stopped the game on Sunday were actually more “banter’’ than hard-core abuse. But by then the damage had been done.

Mohammed Siraj stops play to make a formal complaint to umpire Paul Reiffel about some spectators in the bay behind his fielding position at the SCG.

If the big hearted youngster was feeling emotionally vulnerable you could understand it after bravely staying on tour after his father, a rickshaw driver, died on November 20.

He was in tears listening to the Indian national anthem before the Sydney Test as the collective emotions generated by the anthem, the Test and fulfilling his father’s wish overwhelmed him.

Debate festered after the ejection of six SCG patrons over whether they had been unacceptably offensive or victims of a behavioural crackdown triggered by the racial sledging of Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah over the two previous days.

But this much is clear – the game has changed as far as crowd abuse is concerned.

For more than a century abusive behaviour went unchecked at Australian cricket grounds as if it was some sort of slapstick sideshow.

After days of what he says was racial Siraj took a stand that should become commonplace.

Some of it was. Cricket is nothing without crowd involvement and we all love a good one-liner.

But much of it was crassness masquerading as cleverness. Cowards have been hiding in the masses.

There was somehow a feeling that taunts that would be totally unacceptable in offices, homes or any public space were somehow permissible when shouted from row 23 after two or three or 10 beers.

Not any more.

There was a theory floating around that Sunday’s taunts were more light-hearted than those from the day before with Siraj being called “Shiraz’’.

But there has always been a large cultural gap between what Australian crowds believe is offensive and what players who have to wear them do.

Australian crowds and touring cricketers have never really “got’’ each other.

This jolting incident - as embarrassing as it was - could do more good than harm for the game.

Even if investigations clear the six people ejected Australian crowds are officially on notice.

No more delayed investigations and anonymous warnings. Players have been urged to speak up on the spot. If you want to hurl abuse be prepared to stop a Test and have your face on national television.

Police stepped in and six patrons were ejected from the ground over the incident.

Indian teams have been copping it big time from Australian crowds since they first toured here just after World War II.

Australian player Bill Brown once told me that he heard Indian players cop regular taunted when fielding on the boundary way back in 1947-48.

When Indian born Nawab of Pataudi toured Australia playing for England Brown said boundary hecklers baited him over after over with lines like “where’s your elephant Pat?’’

The crowd thought it was funny. The player not so.

In Australia we love to whinge about baiting from other groups like England’s Barmy Army and the South Africans fans who repeatedly slip under Australia’s skin.

Australian crowds can be as bad - or worse - than any of them.