Aussie legend Mike Hussey calls for life ban over alleged racial abuse from SCG crowd

Former Australian star Mike Hussey wants life bans for spectators who racially abuse players after ugly allegations in Sydney.

Indian officials have lodged a complaint.

Australian legend Mike Hussey has called for any spectator found guilty of racial abuse to be banned from cricket matches for life.

India reportedly lodged a complaint to the ICC after two of players — Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj — allegedly faced racial abuse from the SCG crowd on day three of the third Test.

Livid Indian officials spoke with the ICC match officials and the stadium security after play on day three to make the accusations.

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There were dramatic scenes of the Indian management in discussion with Bumrah and Siraj and the ICC and security after captain Ajinkya Rahane and senior player Ravichandran Ashwin brought the alleged abuse to the light.

The Daily Telegraph reported the pair said they had been abused by members of the public for two days and claim it was racist in nature.

In commentary for Fox Sports on day four, Hussey said: “It’s terrible behaviour and I can’t believe it’s still happening in this day and age.

“They should be banned for life from coming to the cricket.

“The Indians have come here to our shores to entertain us, play some great cricket, we should be so grateful that we can watch some live sport. To treat the players like that is unacceptable.”

Shane Warne added: “Disgraceful to be honest, absolutely disgraceful.

“Should never happen, especially with what’s happened in the last 12 months or so with everything else around the world. Let’s hope they come down heavy and find the culprits.”

Mohammad Siraj is playing in just his second Test match.

It’s beyond disappointing with the SCG currently only allowing 10,000 fans in per day due to Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak with the stadium currently at quarter capacity.

The Australian Medical Association led calls for the match to be played in front of empty stand due to the outbreak due to the fear of the match being a superspreader event with the decision to allow fans copping plenty of criticism.

Cricbuzz reported that allegation of racism “rests with the ICC until further notice”.

Initial reactions shared anger at the “disgusting behaviour” and called for life bans for the culprits.

The reports Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were racially abused at the SCG are extremely upsetting. If true and they find the culprits, please ban them from cricket events for life. They do not deserve the game. Disgusting behaviour. #AUSvIND

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 9, 2021

Racism in cricket (or anywhere) must not be tolerated. I hope Cricket Australia and the Australian team will express solidarity with the Indian players who were racially vilified. #AUSvIND https://t.co/JjbTay3ol6

— Kevin Yam 任建峰 (@kevinkfyam) January 9, 2021

It continues to add animosity between the sides with the fourth Test still up in the air with the Board of Control for Cricket in India yet to confirm if the Indian side will travel to Brisbane.

It was revealed that all the Indian management were looking for was an assurance that the players could “mingle with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble like they did in the IPL. They want to have their meals together inside the hotel and also have the team meetings together”, a senior BCCI official told the Press Trust of India.

It’s a was an ugly end to an absorbing day’s play which saw Australia take a 197 run lead in the second innings with eight wickets remaining.

No player should have to deal with racial abuse.

India were bowled out for 244 with three run outs on the day while Australia finished the day at 2/103 with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease.

On the traditional “Pink Day”, the third day of the Test to raise money for the Jane McGrath Foundation, 111,000 virtual pink seats were sold to fans with the fundraising currently up to $2.2m, the most ever raised.