But allrounder wants issue 'put to bed'

Denials of racist chants upset Symonds

Cricinfo staff

October 15, 2007

Andrew Symonds had "plenty of incentive" to apply himself in Nagpur © AFP

Andrew Symonds has asked for an official resolution to the racist crowd taunts he received at Vadadora on a day when an Australian cameraman in Nagpur reported more monkey chants directed at the allrounder. Symonds responded to the difficult circumstances by blasting a century as Australia sealed the series and after the match he told of his disappointment with the local denials over Thursday's incident.

"On that particular topic, it is a little bit out of my hands, the only thing I will say is that it didn't particularly bother me," he told AAP. "Then somebody comes out and completely denies that something has not happened. That is disappointing, so hopefully it can get handled by the powers that be and put to bed."

The Australian reported the observations of a cameraman who said the chants were repeated by about 20 people in a stand at the ground in Nagpur. The paper said they stopped when a television presenter yelled at the crowd.

The ICC has written to the Indian board for information about the incident at Vadodara, which did not generate an official complaint from Australia. The Baroda Cricket Association and the local police denied the chants were racist and the BCCI has apparently not followed the ICC regulations to appoint an official to deal with "anti-racism policies".

"There is no particular officer," Shah said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "It would be very difficult for us. The country is so huge ... The player might not have understood the language [of the crowd]."

Symonds was able to use the off-field problems as inspiration for his spectacular 107 in Nagpur. "There were some things that have happened that I definitely drew on when I was out there," he said. "There was plenty of incentive to apply myself."

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