Troublemakers give tough time to Melbourne police

MELBOURNE: Unruly spectators marred the opening day of Boxing Day Test between India and Australia with police arresting a dozen and evicting more than 110 people from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Police said they were 'disappointed' with the behaviour of the spectators on Wednesday, after more than 110 people were evicted from the MCG and a dozen arrested, according to a report in 'The Age'.

While authorities praised the overall crowd behaviour, Victoria Police warned unruly cricket spectators that its zero-tolerance approach to misconduct would continue.

"There's an element of the crowd that have decided they are going to come here for one reason, and that is to have a little bit of cricket, and also to see if they can get thrown out," Superintendent Stephen Leane was quoted as saying.

Among those sent from the ground were instigators of the Mexican wave, which circled the stadium several times throughout the day despite being banned for the first time at the Boxing Day event, the report said.

Several people were caught throwing items during the Mexican wave food and were also ejected from the ground, along with a female fan who revealed herself.

Two streakers invaded the pitch late in the day, one of them draped in an Indian flag. Both were arrested and face fines of up to $6000, it said.

Other arrests include nine for drunkenness and one for assaulting a police officer.

However, Superintendent Leane said there were no reports of racial abuse.

It had been 'a very good day' for relations between Indian and Australian supporters, he said.