From Siraj-Bumrah racial abuse to Monkeygate scandal: 5 instances when racism overshadowed gentleman's game
Siddharth Thakur | Correspondent
The infamous Monkeygate scandal made its return when Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah were subjected to the unsavoury remarks made by Australian fans during 3rd Test at the SCG.
From Monkeygate scandal to racial abuse of Siraj: 5 instances when racism overshadowed the gentleman's game | Photo Credit: AP
Key Highlights
- Team India pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were targeted by a section of Australian fans on Day 3 and Day 4 of the 3rd Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
- Siraj was allegedly referred to as ‘Brown Dog’ by Australian fans in the 3rd Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
- The entire cricket fraternity has condemned the reported incidents of racism in the SCG Test
Even though cricket is nicknamed the gentleman's game, several controversial and unfortunate incidents on the 22-yard strip have simply questioned the integrity and dignity of the international players in the past. At a time when the resumption of sporting events is considered as a breath of fresh air amid the coronavirus pandemic, few fans and followers of the game have still managed to make sure that racism in sports continues to remain a major talking point during these testing times.
Touted to be one of the most competitive bilateral series in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, the 2020-2021 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and hosts Australia recorded an ugly incident of discrimination as the third Test match was marred by a racism row in Sydney. Players representing the Indian national team were racially abused by a notorious section of the crowd during the third and fourth day of the 3rd Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The racism row at the SCG Test between India and Australia has not only shellshocked the entire cricket fraternity but the appalling incident has also sparked debates about how some previous incidents have managed to overshadow the gentleman's game. Having said that, let's take a look at some of the most infamous incidents that have threatened to destroy the competitive nature of cricket.
(Photos: AP)
1) Brown Dog and Big Monkey - Siraj-Bumrah at the SCG
In Virat Kohli's words, the iconic SCG has witnessed an 'absolute peak of rowdy behaviour' as Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj were subjected to racial abuse by the Australian spectators on Day 3 and Day 4 of the 3rd Test match. Siraj, who is playing his debut series for India in the longest format was allegedly called "Brown Dog" and "Big Monkey" by the Australian fans which paved the way for immediate banishment and subsequent arrest of six spectators on Sunday.
2) That one guy: Archer targeted at Bay Oval
"Amazing crowd except for that one guy," England speed merchant Jofra Archer had said in a tweet two years ago. Archer was playing his first overseas Test match at the Bay Oval when the 2019 World Cup winner heard racial insults directed at him from one of the Kiwi fans. Facing the music in the whites, Archer was trying to save the Test match for the English Lions when the incident took place. Taking stock of the situation, the New Zealand cricket board tendered a swift apology following the disturbing incident.
3) Take that! Moeen Ali was called Osama
Cricket Australia was also forced to lodge an investigation when England cricketer Moeen Ali had accused an Australian player of name-calling him during the 2015 Ashes. In his autobiography, Ali had revealed that he was called 'Osama' by an Australian player. As per the extract of Ali's book, an Australian player had turned to him on the field and said: "Take that, Osama". The Englishman had asserted that he 'could not believe' what he had heard at the time.
4) 'Abey Kaale, Teri Ammi..': Sarfaraz racially abused Phehlukwayo
Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed had apologised to Andile Phehlukwayo and the people of South Africa for his racist taunt against the Proteas international in 2019. The out-of-favor wicketkeeper was caught on the broadcast stump mics when he made a racist comment in Urdu. "Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?" (Hey black guy, where's your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today?)," Sarfaraz had said while keeping the wickets for Pakistan in Durban.
5) Symonds vs Harbhajan: The Monkeygate scandal
Before the Sydney racism row, it was the Monkeygate scandal during India's 2007-2008 tour Down Under that rocked the entire cricket fraternity. Former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds had accused veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a monkey.
Before being acquitted of hurling racial abuses, spinner Harbhajan was handed a three-game ban and the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) had even contemplated cutting short the tour Down Under in the aftermath of the scandal. However, Harbhajan remained an integral part of the Indian team and also played the Adelaide Test after Team India's famous in Perth.
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Legendary Australian cricketer and two-time World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting had said that the ill-famed Monkeygate scandal was probably the lowest point of his career (as captain). Speaking during a podcast, Ponting had opened up about the Monkeygate incident and said that he was not in full control of what happened during the entire episode.
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