Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith has slammed the current crop of Australian cricketers for being ‘whiny and whingy’ whereas ex-wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has asked the Aussies to look at their own track record before making claims of poor behaviour from the crowd.

The ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia has already witnessed a series of heated exchanges on the field and on Friday (March 23) one more fiasco got added to the list. The third Test, being played at Newlands, saw a South African fan taunting Australia opener David Warner when he climbed the stairs towards the pavillion following his dismissal. Not just restrained to that, the duo had a verbal exchange before the Protea supporter was removed from the stadium.

“I think it’s been disgraceful. You’re talking about abuse of various players and their families and personal abuse, it’s not on at a cricket ground anywhere around the world, not just here, it shouldn’t happen. You can have the banter, that’s fine, banter is good-natured, fun by crowds but they’ve gone too far here. We’ve written to Cricket South Africa, Cricket Australia have done that, we’ll see their response, but it’s been poor,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said of the crowd behaviour after the end of second day’s play in Cape Town.

“We accept it all around the world, but as soon as they cross the line and they talk about players’ families the whole time and getting abused like that, it’s just not on. There’s been various incidents throughout the Test series but this one has taken the cake,” he further added.

In reply, Mark Boucher took to micro-blogging site Twitter and endorsed the views of Lehmann concerning the ill-behaviour of Proteas crowd before reminding the Australian coach that his countrymen are no saint in that regard.

“Correct Darren! Fully agree! But… start cleaning up in your own country first! The personal, racial abuse I’ve witnessed in Aus was ridiculous. U guys don’t live in a glass house! Why the fuss all of a sudden? Seems fine when the shoe is on the other foot,” Boucher wrote in his tweet.

 When an Australia-based fan replied: “Never heard racism in the ground in Australia why bring up racism your country is the most racist in the world”, the former South Africa glovesman retorted: “What ground or grounds were u at sunshine!? Open ur ears! Ask Makhaya Ntini! He will tell you! You are such angels…when u sleeping…”

After some minutes, Graeme Smith joined the bandwagon and said that he has never seen an Aussie side that whinge and whine in this manner.

“Absolutely right, and I don’t condone any of it…. But Blimey i have never seen an Aussie team whinge and whine like this!” Smith wrote on Twitter.