Anger as match is abandoned
9th April 2006
England were ushered away from the aborted fifth one-day international against India before violence erupted at the Nehru Stadium.
Frustration at the abandonment of the contest without a ball being bowled spilled from the stands on to the periphery of the outfield moments after the tourists' coach left the ground under its usual security escort.
Tear gas was released into the stands to disperse the rampaging masses as police armed with batons moved in.
But they became targets for the yobs, gathered in one section of the 20,000-capacity ground, and were pelted by missiles - one officer was knocked out by a brick thrown over the terrace fencing.
While the majority of the transgressors fled, two were apprehended and led away along with the struck policeman, who was carried away on his stretcher by his colleagues.
The England players, meanwhile, were back at the team hotel oblivious to events.
"We could see people were getting a little bit frustrated with the lack of play," said Andrew Strauss, who was due to captain his country for the first time with Andrew Flintoff rested. "You could understand that when they have turned up and it is not raining at the time.
"But we never felt that safety and security was a problem. None of it was anywhere near where the dressing rooms were."
The initial displeasure featured plastic bottles being thrown onto the playing area and fires being lit on the terracing, common occurrences in this part of the world.
But the rebellion intensified as it became clear the five-hour wait was to be fruitless despite only one brief shower. Rain in the preceding five days in this part of north-east India, however, caused the abandonment with persistent downfalls leaving muddy patches on the outfield deemed a threat to player safety.
dailymail.co.uk
9th April 2006
England were ushered away from the aborted fifth one-day international against India before violence erupted at the Nehru Stadium.
Frustration at the abandonment of the contest without a ball being bowled spilled from the stands on to the periphery of the outfield moments after the tourists' coach left the ground under its usual security escort.
Tear gas was released into the stands to disperse the rampaging masses as police armed with batons moved in.
But they became targets for the yobs, gathered in one section of the 20,000-capacity ground, and were pelted by missiles - one officer was knocked out by a brick thrown over the terrace fencing.
While the majority of the transgressors fled, two were apprehended and led away along with the struck policeman, who was carried away on his stretcher by his colleagues.
The England players, meanwhile, were back at the team hotel oblivious to events.
"We could see people were getting a little bit frustrated with the lack of play," said Andrew Strauss, who was due to captain his country for the first time with Andrew Flintoff rested. "You could understand that when they have turned up and it is not raining at the time.
"But we never felt that safety and security was a problem. None of it was anywhere near where the dressing rooms were."
The initial displeasure featured plastic bottles being thrown onto the playing area and fires being lit on the terracing, common occurrences in this part of the world.
But the rebellion intensified as it became clear the five-hour wait was to be fruitless despite only one brief shower. Rain in the preceding five days in this part of north-east India, however, caused the abandonment with persistent downfalls leaving muddy patches on the outfield deemed a threat to player safety.
dailymail.co.uk
