SA in Australia
Aussies beam in on lasers
2009-01-15 21:09
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Wayne Parnell (Gallo Images)
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Christo Buchner
Melbourne. – Cricket Australia will crack down mercilessly on bad crowd behaviour in the one-day series against South Africa.
This comes after a laser light was flashed in South African fielder Wayne Parnell’s face in the Twenty20 game in Brisbane.
A fine of up to R1 500, as well as possible arrest and a court appearance, could lie in wait for anybody who repeats that incident in the coming series.
On Tuesday night, a laser pen was used to distract Parnell as he was positioning himself for a catch.
Cricket Australia’s public affairs manager Peter Young has already apologised to South Africa about the incident.
Trevor Dohnt, manager of the MCG, said police and security officials would endeavour to prevent a recurrence on Friday. Laser pens are banned inside the stadium.
Dohnt conceded it would be difficult to prevent spectators from smuggling in something as small as a laser pen.
The MCG’s vast network of security cameras will be used to catch spectators that try to blind fielders with laser pens.
Parnell, 19, who made his international debut in the second Twenty20 game at the Gabba in Brisbane, said he was surprised when the green light flashed past him as he was trying to get to the ball.
“It was strange and bright, and shone at me. I only realised what it was when it was pointed in other directions. I’m not making any excuses for not taking the catch because it was a good effort just to get to the ball,” he said.
Parnell eventually dived forward to get his finger tips to a ball that had been hit by Michael Hussey.
“I would not have made it to the ball irrespective of whether there was a light or not. I assume that kind of thing happens to you as a fielder when there is a big crowd and you have to accept it. That is why we are professional teams,” said Parnell.
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