Proteas to increase security after 'disgraceful' crowd behaviour
Cricket South Africa has described the behaviour of abusive spectators at Newlands as unacceptable after David Warner was the subject of more taunts and will beef up security for the rest of the third Test.
Warner, the Australian vice-captain, and his teammates had been the targets of slurs about their wives and partners through the opening days of an intriguing clash in Cape Town, although South African fast bowler Morne Morkel later claimed he had been on the end of "the same sort of abuse" when playing at the MCG.
The Australian team lodged a formal complaint with CSA, with coach Darren Lehmann going as far as labelling the abuse as "disgraceful".
Stand off: David Warner turns back to face a crowd member giving the Australian vice-captain an earful.
Cricket Australia expected to have more discussions with its counterpart on Saturday, for CA chairman David Peever is at the Test, although CSA had released a statement through their acting chief executive, Thabang Moroe.
"Cricket South Africa and the players appreciate the fans' passionate support displayed at all our games. However the events that transpired today were not tolerable and something that we don't want to see at any of our Test matches," he said.
"We have since taken it upon ourselves to beef up our security personnel to ensure that players from both sides don't have to endure such unfortunate behaviour. Both CSA and the players encourage supporters to continue rooting for their teams and also to behave in a decorous manner that will allow this Test series to be played in true spirit of the game."
The flashpoint came on Friday when Warner was involved in another incident on a stairwell, with Australia's security man racing to the opener's aid when an abusive spectator followed him up towards the dressing room.
Lehmann confirmed that the man, who was ejected immediately, sprayed the vice-captain with a "personal" and "poor" verbal barrage, three weeks after Quinton de Kock had set Warner off at Kingsmead by making a derogatory comment about his wife, Candice.
While no South African player has gone down that path again, the same can't be said for members of the crowd. In Cape Town, fans have sung disparaging songs and worn vulgar T-shirts about Warner's wife and uttered unsavoury remarks to other players using the names of their wives and partners.
Warner had found himself being abused by a spectator after his first innings dismissal by Kagiso Rabada. The man shadowed Warner up the stairs towards the players' viewing area, having made his way from his seat in the Western Province Cricket Club.
There was a fence between the pair but the Australian team's head of security, Frank Dimasi, was prompted to race down from the team's balcony and castigate the venue security for not protecting Warner. Nine people were ejected from the venue on Friday for offensive behaviour, and three on the first day of the match.
Lehmann said the abuse had gone way beyond being banter.
"I think it's been disgraceful. You're talking about abuse of various players and their families and personal abuse," the Australian coach said.
"It's not on at a cricket ground anywhere around the world, not just here. It shouldn't happen. You can have the banter, that's fine ... banter is good-natured and fun by crowds. But they've gone too far here. We've written to Cricket South Africa. Cricket Australia have done that - we'll see their response, but it's been poor. We'll see what happens. Hopefully something."
Morkel, who celebrated his 300th Test wicket on day two, opted to not criticise the crowd, and claimed he had endured similar taunts when touring Australia.
"We can't control that. Unfortunately, there is a bit of alcohol and there's hot sun and we expect that. When we play in Australia, I have played in Melbourne, I have copped the same sort of abuse. It's part of the game but there is a line and it's important not to cross that," he said.
"The crowd here is always amazing. They come out and support us all the time. Tomorrow is going to be even louder being a Saturday. It's always special playing here at Newlands. It's the marquee event and the way they get behind the boys and lift us up when we are out in the field is special."
The Proteas have had to endure verbal abuse when touring Australia. A Tasmanian man was banned by Cricket Australia for three years for a racist graffiti incident targeting Hashim Amla during the Hobart Test in 2016, while Ashwell Prince, Makhaya Ntini, Garnett Kruger and even Shaun Pollock have been racially abused.
On their 1997 tour, spinner Pat Symcox was pelted with golf balls, glass bottles and pieces of chicken and Jacques Kallis was hit by a tennis ball filled with water during a one-day match at the SCG, prompting captain Hansie Cronje to threaten to lead his team from the field.