Sydney Sixers matchwinner Dan Christian has called on the Australian public to play a role in stamping out casual racism, in the wake of crowd behaviour at the SCG Test which led to several patrons being ejected from the venue.
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Cricket Australia has launched an investigation into multiple allegations of racial abuse from the Sydney crowd towards Indian players on days three and four of the Test.
India reported bowling duo Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah had been subjected to racial slurs from spectators on day three. Siraj was then targeted again on Sunday while Australia was batting, causing play to be halted for 10 minutes while six spectators were marched from the SCG by police.
Christian flew to Canberra with his Sixers teammates on Monday, ahead of the BBL ladder leader's two fixtures in the capital this week starting with a blockbuster against the Sydney Thunder on Wednesday.
The Indigenous veteran, who has long been outspoken on the issue of casual racism, condemned the latest Sydney Test incidents.
"It's not just an Australian cricket problem, it's an Australian society problem," Christian said.
"We've got a problem with casual racism everywhere in society. It's up to everybody, everyone should take responsibility for it.
"As sports people it is a role of ours to be quite vocal about it, be role models in that space and try to stamp it out. That's anyone in the media, be you a sportsman or anyone else for that matter.
"Once all the details are out with what happened in Sydney, I'm sure Tim Paine and the guys will come out and say they're against it.
"If what has happened has been racist comments then that's absolutely disgusting and should be stamped out and I'm sure everyone will get behind that."
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Christian starred for the Sixers in Sunday's nail-biting win over the Brisbane Heat, notching an unbeaten 61 from 38 balls which included a boundary on the final ball of the match to steer his side back to the top of the table.
Wednesday's Sydney Smash, to be held in Canberra for the first time, offer the Sixers a chance to put some breathing space between them and their cross-town rivals.
The Thunder arrived in Canberra late Sunday and have settled straight back into the hotel that housed them for almost a month throughout December,
They've already played at Manuka Oval five times this season, for four wins.
"When you get to the eastern states all the wickets tend to be reasonably similar, and I think our team matches up pretty well to the Thunder in that regard," Christian said.
"We have good spin, we've got some good medium pacers, we've got a good batting lineup and a good bowling attack.
"We've watched a few [Thunder] games - they've been playing really well."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
