Not only Australia, but also all the cricketing nations around the world are now talking not about Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, but about its cricket fans since they cheered for the Australian team during the fifth ODI cricket match at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPS) on June 24.
We know that Sri Lankan cricket fans are perhaps the world’s best cricket fans, because they always welcome opposite sides, and come to watch matches in spite of continuous defeats of the home side. However, for their turning up to the fifth ODI cricket match at RPS, they had another reason. It was to express their gratitude to Australians for touring Sri Lanka with their full team despite Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis. So they came to the stadium wearing the Australian team’s national colour yellow, and also holding banners with thank you signs for the tourists.
After the match, the Australian team completed a lap of honour around the ground clapping and waving their hands to the crowd in return. While they were walking around it, the crowd could also be heard chanting ‘Australia, Australia’. Most of the Australian cricketers in their post-match interviews greatly appreciated this gesture of the fans.
Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell’s thoughts were like this:
“Truly extraordinary” - Maxwell
“That was pretty extraordinary. And I was just saying to the boys that it was one of the most special feelings, being able to walk around the ground and have a foreign country all cheer for you. A lot of times when Australia tours we are generally the enemy and there are not many Australian fans in the stands, but to have the support and fans that are here at the moment is truly extraordinary.”
“Left us speechless” - Warner
Veteran Australian batsman David Warner made a touching post for the local followers on Instagram:
“Congratulations to Sri Lanka for winning the white ball series! The Sri Lankan people’s participation and support of both teams is greatly appreciated. The attendance at the game has been incredible. These photos speak for themselves, and what we witnessed yesterday left us speechless,” he captioned a post for the fans.
“We’re very grateful” - Finch
Australia’s ODI and T20I cricket captain, Aaron Finch also paid his tribute to Sri Lankan cricket fans.
“We’re very grateful that we’ve been able to tour here. We know the difficulties that Sri Lanka has faced in recent times,” he told reporters.
“Hopefully over these eight white-ball games we’ve been able to provide some joy to people in the country.”
Pat Cummins tweeted: “Special way to round out the ODI series. Thanks for the support. Now onto Galle for the Test series.”
Australian middle order batsman Marnus Labuschagne tweeted like this: “How good is cricket. Thanks so much to all the Sri Lankan fans for such a warm welcome. This was really special.”
Cricket Australia’s response
The fans’ welcoming of the Australian team is more admirable because at the time of their cheering for the tourists the winners of the match were Australia. This was also another aspect international media and Aussis players praised the Lankan fans. For Cricket Australia, the winning of the final ODI by Australia didn’t matter whatsoever. They said in their official website: “the result was completely overshadowed by the crazy scenes in the crowd.”
They also mentioned: “The Australian white-ball squad couldn’t quite believe the reception they received after the fifth ODI as a full house at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo chanted ‘Australia, Australia’ to thank the team for visiting at a time of economic crisis.”
Cricket Australia tweeted: “What a superb way to end the ODI series!
We take a four-wicket win…. but how about that Colombo crowd! Insane. Thank you Sri Lanka for your support #SLvAUS”
ICC tweet
The International Cricket Council also praised this. In their website they put: “A lovely gesture from the Sri Lanka fans for Australia.”
ESPNcricinfo also posted a Tweet: “Many Sri Lankan fans have turned up in yellow to thank Australia for touring.
This is what sport is all about.”
“We are so lucky to come here” - Pat Cummins
Before the start of the first Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia Test captain Pat Cummins said in a media interview that what he has witnessed in Sri Lanka during the current cricket tour has really hit them.
“We are so lucky to come here and experience Sri Lanka pretty normally to how we would experience it. I was on a call yesterday and was chatting to some young girl cricketers. They’re down to one meal a day and are going to school a couple of days a week because the teachers can’t get to school.”
He added: “They’re from a fishing village and a lot of them can’t go out to fish because they have no petrol. We are certainly seeing the effects. Even in the buses we are seeing the queues kilometres long around petrol stations. That has really hit home for us.”
Cricket commentators’ reactions
Many international cricket commentators lauded Sri Lankan cricket fans through social media posts.
Cricket Australia journalist Louis Cameron tweeted:
“Hard to recall a visiting team getting a reception quite like the Aussies have today. Sensational stuff.”
A content producer for CODE Sports in Australia, Lachlan McKirdy tweeted: “The Australians complete a lap of honour as the crowd chants ‘Australia, Australia’.”
Senior cricket writer for Sporting News Australia, Melinda Farrell:
“I can recall ever seeing anything like the Colombo crowd in yellow and waving Australian flags and thank you signs. It’s pretty amazing. Australia hasn’t been a good global cricket nation at times. Hopefully this year is a sign of things to come.”
Social media reactions
In fact, crowds gathering in yellow and with thank you banners at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium on that day, was organized by a social media group called ‘One Nation, One People, One Sri Lanka.’
They should be undoubtedly commended for their effort, but more than that it is the ordinary Sri Lankan cricket fans who should be showered with florals for the final output because without their kind reaction the things would have been different.
Following are cricket fans’ social media posts:
Chandrika Dissanayake: “Thank you Australia for your support May God bless and protect our motherland Srilanka and Australia amen”
Nisar Ismail Boat: “Indeed Srilankans Never Disappoints with their Hospitality ….”
Human: “Although I am Indian, I am getting emotional looking at this series. Thank you Australia. Thank you Sri Lanka . Also, wanted to say that these bad times will fade away.”
Shikhar Shukla: “Indian Women Cricket Team is also on tour of Sri Lanka. Whatever the Situation India would always stand with Sri Lanka.”
Tarun Freestone: “As an Indigenous Indian Australian…. Moved to tears, that’s the craziest and most bewildering experience I’ve ever witnessed! I doubt any other country would do that for one another….It’s a very special friendship and I don’t think we have ever seen a population as kind as excited about their opponents participation as the crowd in COLOMBO. Losing has never felt so good…. People can’t eat, people can’t find respite from the circumstances but somehow find money to wear an oppositions colours. Honestly Aussies if you like surfing you’ll find some of the best waves in the world over in Sri Lanka, safe travels and tip well.”
Live 2 Learn: “This is how a crowd should be... Encouraging own team.. respecting opponent.. As a Cricket lover from India..I want to Thank You Sri Lankafor showing such beautiful gesture towards Australia.. hope you all are doing well.. prayers Everything will be fine️”
Osuchabro: “The way the Sri Lankan crowd treated our team is quite amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that before. The boys will really appreciate it and remember that for a very long time.”
Sachin Tendulkar: “This really reminds me of the 1996 world cup, both times Sri Lanka beat Australia, both times they won unexpectedly and both times the country was in the middle of a crisis.”
Grant Ferstat: “What a wonderful tour experience, Great people the Sri Lankans. Their country has been through such a tough time and yet the warmth and spirit is undaunted. They deserve our love and support.”
Jassi Wale: “As an Indian its a very emotional feeling. Our neighbours who are facing a tough time in their country, it’s really a nice gesture, on behalf of cricket fans around the globe I also wanna say “Thank You Australia for supporting Sri Lanka in their bad times.”
Bat Man: “Seriously, the crowds have been fantastic. Such a great atmosphere and I really loved how the Sri Lankans treated our players. Sri Lanka has the best fans in the World. Thank you for such great cricket and for the fans being so nice and fantastic. I really hope Sri Lanka can recover. All the best from Australia.”
Shubham Sawarn: “Sri Lankan crowd is actually one of the best cricketing crowds you can have.”
Mayur Magadalwar: “I still remember the reception we got in Nidhas trophy final it was awe inspiring.”
RAHUL Maurya: “Mixed with nagin dance.”
Vaibhav Sharma: “Sri Lanka will come out of this! You are champions!”
Dilip Aghav: “love from India. Srilanka will emerge from this situation.”
fallingStar: “Love from India brother”
Thisuni Jayawardane: “As we Sri Lankans , we showed our gratitude to the Australian cricket team for visiting us in this crucial situation. Never forget everyone who lent a helping hand when we fall. Thank you everyone throughout the world who supports us!”
Naveed Official: “Both teams are championship in both ways!!, Srilanka won the cup, Australians won the Hearts”
Zindagi With Riaz Brothers: “Rare scene in cricket. But Sri Lankans did that. Lots of love to Sri Lanka. ”
Soham Das: “As an Indian I am very happy to see this kind of gesture.... And to our SL brothers I would like to say that keep hope... Tough times will one day fade out.”
Dhrubajyoti Sarmah: “Remember what CA, Umpires and Australian crowd had done to Srilankan Cricketers during 90s...and now Srilankan are giving you returns like this...hats off to Srilankan crowd...”
Burhan Ilyas: “Sri Lanka is among the best Hosts in Asia and as a nation they are marvelous.”
Comedy Reels: “I am Indian...but my eyes are filled with tears....”
Neil Pemberton: “This should be required viewing for all those who say ODIs are meaningless outside of World Cups. It’s the best thing I’ve seen for weeks!”
Alert & Alive: “That’s the pure soul and spirit shown by Sri Lankans . Love from Australia and wish you best of luck ahead.”
Islander_Kool_kat: “Heartwarming gesture by the islanders. I doubt we have ever seen anything like this ever before. Stay strong Sri Lanka.”
Clarence Mendonca: “What better advertisement for cricket. They flocked in thousands. Knowledgeable and respectful. Tumultuous reception throughout the series, worthy of Royalty. Take a bow Sri Lanka . You’ve done yourselves very, very proud. May this be a forerunner, for other countries to emulate.”
Anubhab Dey: “Colombo always gifts cricket fans something memorable...”
Vanden Riesen: “Promoting friendship among Nations thru Cricket. Thank You! both Sri Lankan & Australian teams. WORLD IS ONE.”
Khalidul Haq: “As a Sri Lankan, this makes me emotional. Thank you Australia”