ABSTRACT
Early in the twentieth century, a visiting English fast bowler criticized Australian crowds and ‘the bitterness of the disappointed mob of cricket fans’:
Australia was being beaten so the crowd, not knowing what sportsmanship means, shouted abuse at the men who were winning. Can you imagine my feelings when 50,000 people booed my every step as I ran at the wicket? … The Australian people seem to be out to throw us off our game. When they failed they shouted insults, and hoped to win in that way. 1
