Former Australia captain Ian Chappell talked about his brush with racism during his playing days and how he saw and protested fellow players being abused and treated indifferently on the basis of their colour
Worldwide protests are going on against colour-based discrimination since the killing of an Afro-American, George Floyd, after being kneeled on his neck by a white police officer on May 25 in the USA.
Taking strength from the resolve shown by everyone around, sportspersons, including cricketers like Daren Sammy, have been opening on their experiences with the deep-rooted social problem.
Speaking from his own, Chappell said it is only when he started travelling abroad for cricket that he really came to face to face with the issue.
"As racism is playing a prominent role in the current turbulent times, it's worth reflecting on my experience of prejudice in and around cricket," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
"As a youngster growing up in a family where there was no notable prejudice, despite being in the era of the White Australia Policy, I wasn't really aware of racism."
"My first overseas tour was to South Africa in 1966-67 and it was an eye-opener. The apartheid regime was in power and we got a taste of its abhorrent nature after winning the second Test in Cape Town," he recalled.
"'Why don't you pick Garry Sobers? Then you'll have a team full of blacks' was the offensive comment directed at Australian batsman Grahame Thomas by an ignorant patron in the team hotel. Thomas has Native American lineage dating back to the days of slavery."
During his captaincy tenure, Chappell made an effort to make Australia a better all-round team, that not just wins on the field but also upholds good values off the field.
"In 1972-73, prior to commencing a home series against Pakistan and then touring the Caribbean, I spoke to the Australian players. I warned them if there were any terms of address prefixed by the word "black", there would be trouble."
"I said: 'You don't call someone a lucky white b******, so why include the word 'black' in any outburst?' I never heard any such comments from those Australian players."
Chappell revealed that West Indies legend Vivian Richards had spoken to him about an Australian player who used derogatory comments against him during the famous 1975-76 tour. Richards, however, later told the Aussie that the matter had been sorted out.
From the same year, Chappell narrated another incident, where a player of colour featuring in the mixed-race International Wanderers side, managed by Richie Benaud and led by Greg Chappell, was targetted.
"We travelled to a ground outside Port Elizabeth to watch players of colour who weren't allowed to compete in the Currie Cup competition because of South Africa's apartheid laws."
"John Shepherd, who played for West Indies and Kent, and is of the most gentle people on this earth, was part of our side," Chappell wrote.
"As we were leaving, a member of the crowd shouted out: 'Why don't you paint yourself white, Shepherd, and then you can be like the rest of them'.
"This is the sad reality of racism. What is implied often cuts deepest."
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
