Brearley’s grim prediction

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 18

Brearley’s grim prediction

NZPA Sydney England’s cricket captain, Mike Brearley, yesterday warned that somebody would be killed one day in front of an Australian cricket crowd. Brearley painted his grim picture of the Australian cricket scene on the eve of today’s second test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Brearley launched a scathing attack on Australian crowds in a radio interview.

He said: “I’m amazed at the crowds in Australia. “When we played the West Indies in Brisbane, we weren’t even playing Australia — we were booed on to the field. “Crowds here simply don’t like Poihmies. Anything we’ve done we’ve done for cricket.” Brearley said it was getting to the stage where it was downright dangerous to play in Australia. “You can’t go out and field within 15 yards of the boundary,” he said-

“That is not particularly good for cricket. “People say on the radio etc., that they are silly field platings, that we should have somebody on the boundary. “But you see what happened to the ‘Angels lead singer in Sydney. He was hit behind the ear by a full beer can. and finished up in hospital with eight stitches. “Someone is going to get killed one day in front of Australian crowds,” Brearley said.