South Africans threaten to walk off field if racially taunted again

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting Australia

Adelaide Oval, Tuesday The South Africans who have been at the receiving end of the Australian spectators who have been taunting them with racial taunts, have once again threatened to walk off the field if spectators racially taunt them again this summer.

The Proteas have been abused racially at least four times this summer. Recently it was in Brisbane when colored players Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince and Garnett Kruger were abused while they were loosening up.

Shaun Pollock was also not spared. A separate racial tirade was leveled at him in another part of the ground and the police had to eject this spectator.

At a recent team meeting the players, it is understood had discussed this alarming situation and insisted that they would walk off if they are further abused.

According to a report in the South African press, some players claim that walking off will be 'the only way the (Australian) authorities will listen and stop this rot. Greame Smith, after the Perth Test last month demanded an apology after some players were called 'kaffirs' - an highly inflammable term for a black person.

Cricket Australia is worried and is having extra security briefings and ground managers have been warned to look out for spectators hurling racist remarks.

James Sunthrerland, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia has been taking with his counterpart in South Africa Gerald Majola and said that Australia are doing everything to see that these taunts will not be repeated in the remainder of the Victoria Bitter series.

Gilchrist to lead against Sri Lanka

The Australian selectors who believe in a rotation policy, have decided to rest the world's best one-day batsman and captain Ricky Ponting in the next match against Sri Lanka in the on going one-day series.

This match will be played on Australia day - Thursday, where a packed house is expected to watch the game.

The selectors have recalled Adam Gilchrist who was rested for two matches and straight away thrown him into the deep end as captain and are confident that pressure of opening the innings and captaincy would not stall his usually aggressive play.

Gilchrist who flew out of Perth said that the rest has done him good and refreshed him and that his batteries have been recharged and insisting that he wanted to bat in his opening slot. Gilchrist will be hauled before a disciplinary inquiry tomorrow where he will face a charge of dissent after Australia's loss to South Africa at the Gabba where he was reported after he was reported for questioning Aleem Dar as to why he did not refer a close run out decision to the third umpire.

It would be interesting to watch how the Aussie selectors would go if Gilchrist is found guilty and suspended.