Cricket vandals attack Aussie team

By RICHARD BOOCK and BRONWYN SELL

The Australian cricket team are under attack from New Zealand hooligans who knifed the tyres on their team vans, scrawled threatening graffiti on the windows and verbally abused them.

The incidents, which followed a riotous one-day match in Dunedin on Wednesday, have appalled the New Zealand cricketers and embarrassed the Government, which is urging people to calm down.

Australian team sources say eight players went to a McDonald's restaurant in Dunedin just before midnight on Wednesday, after winning the second one-day international against New Zealand.

They were harassed by a group of youths who are suspected of following them back to the team's hotel, Skyline Leisure Lodge, knifing the tyres on two vans and writing threatening language on the windows. One of the knives was still stuck in the tyre when the team discovered it yesterday, said team manager Steve Bernard.

"It's pretty disappointing, particularly after the behaviour at the ground the night before. At least the cricket was good," he added ruefully.

The Dunedin match was interrupted twice by the crowd - once when cans and other rubbish were thrown on to the ground, and again when spectators jumped the barriers and raided the pitch.

Fires were lit in the stands and the umpires abused after the game.

The crowd behaviour was widely reported in Australia. Newspapers said the players were sickened by the reaction.

The Minister for Sport, Trevor Mallard, said last night the behaviour was embarrassing and did enormous damage to our international image.

"If our national sporting teams were treated like this in any other country, we would be outraged. We would probably be particularly furious if it happened in Australia, given the close rivalry we have with that country."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig said he and the Black Caps were appalled at the behaviour at Carisbrook.

"We are sorry that the Australians have been subjected to further abusive treatment. But we can't say much more because the matter's been put in the hands of the police."

Hillary Commission spokesman John Boyd said the behaviour reflected poorly on New Zealand sportsmanship. "It appears to be a few young people who have totally lost sight of the fact that this is the best cricket team in the world. They're doing their job, and we should be pleased to have them here.

"Our message to these people would be: 'Grow up. Go watch these guys and enjoy the cricket.'"