Former Australian captain Mark Taylor was disturbed to know about Ravichandran Ashwinβs accounts of racial abuse, which the Indian side faced in Sydney. The off-spinner described the Sydney crowd βnastyβ, but Taylor believes the issue isnβt restricted to Australia and needs to be tackled globally.
The controversial drawn third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground saw Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Burmah racially abused by a section of the crowd. After the fourth dayβs play, Ashwin criticized the incident, stating it wasnβt an isolated one.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Mark Taylor expressed his disappointment on the matter as a New South Welshman.
βI was disappointed to read Ravi Ashwinβs comments around Sydney being particularly bad. From a New South Welshmanβs point of view, that really disappoints me because I donβt think thereβs a need for it in the game," said Taylor.
βIβd like to see it stamped out if possible. But I donβt see this is a Sydney, NSW or Australia problem β itβs something that can happen anywhere in the world. Players donβt have to put up with continual abuse. Itβs mundane and a slight on the game. The vast majority of the crowd just want to watch some good cricket,β Mark Taylor added.
Mark Taylor finds motivation of such fans astounding

Mark Taylor, who explained he finds the motivation of such fans astounding, feels the consistent abuse of sportsmen happens across the world.
βIt always astounds me why people go to sporting events just to abuse people. Iβm not against a little bit of banter, a βnice shotβ or βwell fieldedβ. A little sledge or banter β as a player you expect that and you donβt mind that. As a professional player, you need to be able to handle it", Taylor said.
βBut this consistent abuse of people, not just in Australia, it happens around the world at sporting events. I donβt know why people want to go, if thatβs what theyβre going to do. I reckon they should go and do something else. Because at the SCG there was only 25 per cent of the crowd allowed, tickets were limited. So why waste those if thatβs what youβre going to do,β Mark Taylor added.
In the wake of the crowd behaviour in Sydney, Cricket Australia (CA) were forced to apologize to India twice. The fourth dayβs play was also halted for 10 minutes before police escorted six fans out of the stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have also condemned the incident. CA are parallelly investigating the case with the NSW Police, and ICC have pledged their support to the inquiry.
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