Australia coach Langer slams racist abuse of Indian players

RESENDING WITH SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT VIDEO SHOWS: STILL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM FOURTH DAY OF THE THIRD TEST BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND INDIA IN SYDNEY, COMMENTS FROM AUSTRALIA COACH, JUSTIN LANGER AND INDIA BOWLER, RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN, FILE FOOTAGE OF INDIA'S JASPRIT BUMRAH AND MOHAMMED SIRAJ SHOWS: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 10, 2021) (AAP IMAGES - NO USE AUSTRALIA, NO USE NEW ZEALAND, NO ARCHIVE, NO RESALES) (MUTE) 1. POLICE IN THE SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF FANS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF RACIST ABUSE FROM CROWD SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 10, 2021) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA - ACCESS ALL) 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CRICKET COACH JUSTIN LANGER SAYING: "It's upsetting and it's disappointing. Anyone who knows me, I've said for years, one of my greatest pet hates in life that people think they can come to a sporting event, whether it's cricket or any code, and pay their money and think they can abuse or say whatever they like. I hated it as a player, I hate it as a coach, we've seen it in different parts of the world and it's really sad to see it happen in Australia. There's been a lot of talk over the last couple of years... but it's sad to see that happen. I think our series so far has been played in such great spirits, there's been incredible cricket, it's been brilliant to watch on the field, it's been really good spirits between both teams and it's a shame to see it getting marred by incidents like we're hearing about today and last night (Saturday)." 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CRICKET COACH JUSTIN LANGER SAYING: "The team has been looking and we're exploring and learning, we're being educated and the more you get educated and the more you understand, the more sickening it is when you hear of racial discrimination as has been alleged today, so it makes you feel very sad that people are subjected to that and when you start getting educated on what's happened in the history of Australia - like the path I've been on personally - and a number of our players are, you can understand why it's so hurtful." SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 10, 2021) (AAP IMAGES - NO USE AUSTRALIA, NO USE NEW ZEALAND, NO ARCHIVE, NO RESALES) (MUTE) 5. MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE OF AUSTRALIA LOOKS ON AS BOWLER MOHAMMED SIRAJ OF INDIA DIVES FOR THE BALL SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 10, 2021) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA - ACCESS ALL) 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA BOWLER RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN SAYING: "Look I'd like to point out something. This is my fourth tour to Australia and Sydney, especially here, has been... we've had a few experiences here in the past and I think one or two times even the players have reacted and got into trouble in the past and that's not because of the players it's actually the way ther crowd has been speaking, especially the people in the lower tier of the stands, they have been quite nasty, they have been hurling abuses as well. But this time they've actually gone a step higher and they shout abuses and like we already mentioned there was an official complaint yesterday and the umpires also mentioned that we must react more decisively as it happens on the field and then they will be able to take action and it is definitely not acceptable in this day and age that we come to... we've seen a lot and all over society and sometimes I think this roots back to the upbringing and the way one sees. So this must be definitely dealt with an iron fist and we must make sure that it doesn't happen again." DHARAMSALA, INDIA (FILE - MARCH 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 7. INDIA BOWLER JASPRIT BUMRAH DURING NETS PRACTICE ABU DHABI, UAE (FILE - OCTOBER 21, 2020) (BCCI - NO USE INDIA) 8. INDIA BOWLER MOHAMMED SIRAJ SPEAKING TO MEDIA STORY: The Sydney test match between Australia and India on Sunday (January 10) was marred for the second successive day by complaints from the Indian team that they were being racially abused by a section of fans in the crowd that was limited to 7,225 by COVID-19 restrictions. Bowler Mohammed Siraj approached the umpire and the match was paused while a small group of fans were removed from the ground by police. Cricket Australia apologised to the India team and promised a full investigation of the incidents. Australia coach Justin Langer said afterwards he was disappointed and upset by the racism, adding: "I hated it as a player, I hated it as a coach, we've seen it in different parts of the world and it's really sad to see it happen in Australia." India's bowler Ravichandran Ashwin said the team had been insulted by Sydney spectators in the past but the racial abuse had crossed a line during the ongoing match. "It is definitely not acceptable in this day and age. This must definitely be dealt with iron-fist and we must make sure it doesn't happen again," the bowler said. Bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj have both complained of racist abuse while fielding near the boundary. On Sunday Siraj approached the umpire and the match was paused while a small group of fans were removed from the ground by police. Cricket Australia apologised to the India team and promised a full investigation of the incidents. Siraj complained of hearing racist slurs while fielding near the boundary rope on Sunday. In a statement, Cricket Australia condemned all "discriminatory behaviour" and said they would act against anyone found to have been guilty of vilification. (Production: Tim Hart)
Cricket