'Show some respect': Ponting blasts 'disgraceful' SCG crowd
Ricky Ponting has taken an extraordinary swipe at the Sydney crowd over their treatment of Virat Kohli.
Kohli’s ongoing battle with the SCG faithful continued on Thursday when he was booed to the crease by some sections of the crowd.
SHOCK NEWS: India rocked by death of coach on eve of fourth Test
SON OF A GUN: Austin Waugh gets special call-up for fourth Test
Chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli’ boomed across the iconic venue when India’s skipper walked to the crease on Thursday, when the tourists’ fans were overcome with awe.
But some of Australia’s supporters voiced their disapproval of the pantomime villain on day one of the fourth Test.
Ponting said he didn’t really hear the boos, but would be very disappointed if it did happen.
“If it was booing then it’s absolutely disgraceful,” Ponting said on Channel 7.
“I said that in the Perth Test as well. Show some respect.”
Fellow commentator Tim Lane confirmed he did hear booing, and was fuming.
“I must say I thought the reception he was given as he came out was poor and it was graceless in that he is the captain of a visiting team,” Lane said.
“To welcome a visiting captain like that … is classless.
“He has not done anything wrong, he has just been too good.”
On Macquarie Sports Radio, Lane added: “We should be better than that as a nation. I didn’t like it.
“All Kohli has been guilty of is leading his country in Australia and winning.
“If the people don’t like it, they should at least recognise it and applaud it.”
Kohli copped a smattering of boos in the previous three Tests, with Ponting and Travis Head both expressing their disappointment in Adelaide.
Kohli’s history with Sydney crowd
It also isn’t the first time that Kohli has been jeered by fans in Sydney.
Kohli’s maiden tour of Australia in 2012 was marred by an incident in the SCG Test, when he was in the field and gave some hecklers the middle finger.
The superstar, fined 50 per cent of his match fee for flipping the bird, went on to score the first of his 25 Test tons later in that series.
“I agree cricketers don’t have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. the worst ive heard … never heard crap like that. EVER,” Kohli posted on Twitter at the time.
Kohli, who was caught behind down the leg side in the first over after tea on Thursday, scored 23.
Kohli, who has previously suggested boos only serve to motivate him, detailed India’s siege mentality on the eve of the fourth Test.
“It’s not only the team you are playing against, it’s the whole nation,” Kohli said on Wednesday.
“Because they get behind the team so well.
“When you walk in to bat, you feel there are 40,000 people who want your wicket, not just the 11 guys on the field.”
Some fans were critical of Kohli but the gifted batsman earned plenty of praise from commentators for throwing his support behind the McGrath Foundation.
Kohli’s gloves and bat both had pink markings, while his bat grip was entirely pink.
with AAP
