Cricket: Players pull covers over wild night out

By RICHARD BOOCK and LOUISA CLEAVE

New Zealanders' reputation for being sheepish gained new momentum yesterday as the World Cup cricketers slunk back into Johannesburg, refusing to comment about their drunken escapade in Durban.

Vice-captain Chris Cairns was punched to the ground and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum received grazes in a scuffle outside the Tiger, Tiger nightclub, after 11 members of the New Zealand squad, including captain Stephen Fleming, were ejected for disorderly behaviour.

Nightclub owner Guy van der Post told the Herald yesterday that Cairns and one other player were frog-marched out of the club and the remainder told to leave after the group's "drunken antics" over a period of about 2 1/2 hours.

"They were all drunk," he said.

"A couple of them were very drunk, and in the end we had to eject them to stop the thing getting out of hand."

Once outside the club, an unknown assailant punched Cairns, sparking a general melee.

The New Zealanders have refused to comment, apart from directing reporters to a statement, issued from Christchurch, suggesting the side suffered an unprovoked attack.

Cairns has told his manager, Leanne McGoldrick, in Christchurch, that the only problem was earlier in the night when he refused to put his shirt back on when asked.

"Chris and a couple of others were not so keen on putting them back on so they were asked to leave." she said. "And they did leave."

Cairns' partner, Carin van den Berg, had telephoned him that night from Johannesburg, where she is staying with her parents, to tell him she was pregnant.

The couple have a son, Thomas.

"His thoughts are that it's a most unfortunate incident ... but it was an approved night out and one which obviously had some added celebrations for Chris because he had just found out he was going to be a dad again," said Mrs McGoldrick.

Mr van der Post said there was no truth to reports that a haka had inflamed passions inside the club.

It was just that the players' increasingly raucous behaviour had affected other club-goers, leading to the likelihood of a fight.

Finally, and after repeated warnings, they were ejected about 2am "to ensure things didn't get out of hand".

Witnesses claimed in the Johannesburg Star that several players then attempted to get back in, after which a scuffle broke out between Cairns and some patrons.

Afrikaans newspaper The Beeld called the New Zealanders' behaviour a disgrace.

Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Mathew Sinclair and Chris Harris were not at the nightclub.

New Zealand have not made a complaint to the police.

Mr van der Post said he tried to approach Fleming.

"He seemed very disinterested in what was happening within his team," the club owner said.

He said he received a phone call from New Zealand manager Jeff Crowe, who apologised and said the team would like to return the next time they were in town.

Crowe is apparently sending a report of the incident to New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden, who will then decide whether to take action.

As for the five close protection officers who were allegedly with the team, Mr van der Post said he only heard of such security after he read the media reports.

"Usually, when you have a high-profile team or group you have security officers or minders coming to you, introducing themselves and making the necessary arrangements.

"If they were there I'd like to know what they were doing, because we were desperately trying to find someone who would take responsibility."


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