More crowd trouble marred Australia’s NatWest Series final win at Lord’s when a full beer can was hurled on to the balcony during the presentation ceremony and hit Michael Bevan in the face
CricInfo23-Jun-2001More crowd trouble marred Australia’s NatWest Series final win at Lord’s when a full beer can was hurled on to the balcony during the presentation ceremony and hit Michael Bevan in the face.Bevan was seen rubbing his cheek after the incident, which followed pitch invasions at Edgbaston and Headingley.The incident prompted Australian captain Steve Waugh to repeat his warning that somebody will get killed unless action is taken.”I know I keep harping on about it but someone will get killed,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it.”Michael’s sore and lucky – I don’t think there are any breaks there.”It could have been serious, it could have hit him in the eye, the nose, thetemple, whatever.”It’s just pure luck that it hit him in a spot that doesn’t appear to be tooserious.”Bevan, who was interviewed by police, said: “I wasn’t too sure what happened myself. I felt something hit the side of my head and it wasn’t until a few minutes later that we found it was a full beer can.”I wasn’t turning towards that direction. I think I’ve got out of it prettywell at this stage. I’ve had a quick check-up. I suppose we might have to waituntil the morning to see how it is.”It could have happened to any other player, I was just the unlucky one. Itreally could have done me a lot more damage. It could have hit me in the eye,the nose, the mouth or anywhere, or the temple. I’ve probably got away with it.”The authorities have got to look back over the series and say can we improvein any way, shape or form on this. It was going well today and unfortunately anincident like that marred an otherwise uneventful day.”I can’t tell what a person would be thinking in that instance but he musthave known a thing like that could have done serious damage.”Waugh added: “We thought we were safe there 50 metres away from the crowd. Itcame out of blue. It was a cowardly act. There’s safety in numbers.”He’s obviously thrown it with the intent of hurting someone. Thirty playerswere lined up and it was probably pot luck who it was going to hit.”It’s very sad, but maybe, in a way, you can turn it into a positive. Maybewe’ve reached the lowest point with the spectators, and something will be doneand it will be recognised that there are problems, and precautions have got tobe taken.”This will probably have to go on the list. It might be plastic cups insteadof bottles and cans in future.”I think everyone’s got to sit down and work out what the best way is tosolve these problems and how we can prevent it.”It’s certainly very disappointing. It’s a shame the day had to end likethat. The crowd was very well behaved up to that point.”Ricky Ponting revealed how his throw-away remark had saved Bevan from more serious injury. He said: “Just before it hit him I told him to look at the camera. It’s a good job I did or it would have hit him smack on the nose. Thankfully it looks as though he is going to be okay.”Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, named man-of-the-series, added: “It’s a shamethe way it’s ended.”Eggs were also thrown towards the balcony but the beer can was the only objectto reach it. After the incident, the remainder of the presentation ceremony was held inside.Former England captain David Gower, speaking on Sky Sports 1, said: “It is a shameful end to this NatWest series. It is unbelievable, ridiculous.”These people have let their country down. This is getting out of hand.”People out there are still enjoying the fact that something of this naturehas happened.”MCC can be proud of what they have managed to achieve so far. They let thecrowd on to the field at the end with an element of control. They the fans letthem down.”There are people who have come for a quite day out and this happens. Theplayers, the stewards and the crowd all have a right to be protected”It seems that even the presentation ceremony is a problem now. It is thefirst time we have ever seen scenes like this at Lord’s.”Another former England captain Bob Willis believes the scenes should mean the end for balcony presentations where fans can watch from close quarters.He said: “We have learned a lot from Australia over the years – we discoveredwhite balls and floodlit cricket about 20 years after them.”Over there they have scrapped presentations on balconies. They only have apresentation after one-day finals on the field of play.”The sooner the government can pass the legislation to prevent people comingon the pitch the better.”He went on: “Presentations will have to be in camera so the spectators can watch it on the big screen but if it’s a final the fans cannot be allowed on the pitch.”We’ve had the same problem in soccer. It’s the minority that ruin it foreverybody.”Former Pakistan player Ramiz Raja said: “The answer is to fine thespectators. If we find someone hitting someone with a beer can they should be jailed and fined.”You need that legislation in place – only then would we be able to stop thisproblem.”It was expected that detectives would examine TV footage in a bid to find the culprit.A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “A number of people came on to the pitch after the game. There were no arrests.”At the end of the match a number of people gathered in front of the pavilionto watch the presentation.”Within this group, a very small number threw missiles, one of which hitAustralian cricketer Michael Bevan in the face.”She added: “The incident will be investigated by Marylebone CID.”