Sunday, October 14, 2007

Symonds ready to move on following racist abuse


Australia's Andrew Symonds says he is ready to move on after suffering racist abuse from spectators during Thursday's one-day international against India in Baroda.The big all-rounder was subjected to monkey noises while he was fielding."You have to be pretty thick-skinned to survive in the Australian dressing room, let alone out on the paddock," Symonds was quoted as saying in Australian newspapers on Sunday."I am a pretty liberal sort of bloke but racism is a big issue in world sport, not just cricket."It is a sensitive issue and guys have been made an example of in the past, but what do you do in this instance if it's coming from the crowd? Life goes on."Australia captain Ricky Ponting, meanwhile, has called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action."I know the match referee knows about it, if the ICC gets it in the report they have to do something," he said. "Racism is unacceptable anywhere in the world, you don't expect it to happen when you step out on the field."We did not expect it and we do not expect it to happen again."Australia play India in the sixth one-day international in Nagpur on Sunday. The touring side lead the series 3-1.

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