Australian cricket was again plunged in controversy on Tuesday night amid claims that a spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second Twenty20 match against South Africa shone a laser beam in the face of South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell, as he went for a diving catch offered by Michael Hussey.
Australian cricket was again plunged in controversy on Tuesday night amid claims that a spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second Twenty20 match against South Africa shone a laser beam in the face of South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell, as he went for a diving catch offered by Michael Hussey.
Parnell's unsuccessful attempt off a Hussey skier at long-off came at a crucial stage inu00a0 Australia's six-wicket victory in a close finish.
Television coverage picked up a green light that flashed across the fielder.
Big difference
Man of the match Hussey went on to score an unbeaten 53 to lead the home side to a thrilling victory.
After the incident, Cricket Australia (CA) promised to crack down on fans using laser beams in future.
CA spokesman Peter Young is quoted by AAP as saying his Board had apologised to the South African team andu00a0 any fan caught with a laser beam at matches hereafter will be prosecuted.
"We have apologised to the South African cricket team and they have accepted our apology. They are not intending to make a complaint because it did not affect the fielder," he said.
"However from our point of view it's just not cricket; it's completely unacceptable and if we find people doing this sort of thing, we will react to the maximum extent that we can," he said.
