Fear For Life (23 April 1999)

23 April 1999

Fear For Life

The Barbados Nation

Australian captain Steve Waugh said he feared for his life as the fifth One-Day International against West Indies ended in chaos at Bourda, Guyana, on Wednesday.

Raman Subba Row, the match referee, is to complain officially to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the West Indies Cricket Board over security at the ground and called for it to lose the right to host future matches.

Waugh was caught in a crush when about 1,000 spectators stormed the pitch during the final ball of the tension-filled match.

One fan crashed into him, giving him whiplash, another grabbed his bat and others hurled taunts and threats as the Australians walked to a conference with officials.

''It doesn't get much scarier than that on a sporting field,'' Waugh said. ''You see them come charging on like the Light Brigade, you don't know what's going to go on. It just takes one guy who has had too much to drink or whatever to do something silly.''

The invasion came as the West Indies appeared set to win by one run. But it caused Subba Row to declare a tie. He also ordered an investigation into the incident.

''There have been a couple of other incidents like this but at all times, the safety of the players and officials is the absolute priority,'' ICC chief executive David Richards said yesterday in London.

Richards said he didn't see the match but ''a tie sounds like a reasonable outcome.

''We're happy to leave it in the hands of the match referee,'' he said.

Subba Row said the police "really were desperately disappointing which must, I think, prejudice the future of cricket being played here again.

"You can't have that sort of risk with players. It's sad for Georgetown being such an historic venue and also for West Indies cricket, but if they can't run it, then they can't run it."

Waugh said West Indian exuberance went too far this time.

''You never know if they are carrying a weapon or not. You bet they're not, but it only takes one - you look at the Monica Seles incident. Something like that could have happened here,'' he added.

Seles was stabbed by a spectator during a changeover at a 1993 tennis tournament in Hamburg, Germany.

Waugh hit the last ball of the match to long-on with his team needing four to win and three to tie. By the time fielder Stuart Williams returned the ball to bowler Keith Arthurton, Waugh and his vice-captain and partner Shane Warne had crossed for two.

But the spectators already were invading, seizing stumps as the Australian pair tried to cross for an improbable third.

''The last run I took, I got clattered by a spectator that went close to my neck and I got my bat taken out of my hand,'' Waugh said. ''I have whiplash to my neck and I'm happy to get away with it that lightly.''

He said he was threatened as he and Australian officials crossed the outfield to view replays before Subba Row made his decision.

''I was threatened on the way to the box,'' Waugh said. ''Is cricket really worth that much? It's certainly not worth risking your life for.''

The seven-match series, which remained tied 2-2, concludes with two matches at Kensington Oval tomorrow and Sunday.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (http://www.nationnews.com/)

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