Cricket: England fans hijack scoreboard in India

This fan message from a "Madeleine McCann" appeared on the scoreboard in Mumbai during the test match. Photo / via Twitter

England cricket fans are being criticised after they hijacked the scoreboard at a test match in India, posting offensive jokes about the likes of Madeleine McCann and Josef Fritzel.

The messages appeared at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, where India are in charge on the fourth day of the fourth test.

England are 182 for 6 in their second innings after scoring 400 all out in the first innings. India scored a mammoth 631, with Virat Kohli (235), Murali Vijay (136), Jayant Yadav (104) cashing in.

England trail by 49 runs going into the final day.

A England supporter at the match tweeted the images and said: "England taking the piss at the cricket in India."

The posts have been retweeted over 8000 times.

The Adam Johnson message. Photo / via Twitter

The offensive posts included: "Lovely to see so many young cricket fans here today! - Adam Johnson."

Former footballer Johnson was given a six-year prison sentence earlier this year for child sex offences.

This fan message from a "Madeleine McCann" appeared on the scoreboard in Mumbai during the test match. Photo / via Twitter

Those attributed to Madeleine McCann read: "So grateful for my parents to bring me to the Cricket! Great day so far :) - Madeleine McCann."

McCann went missing while on holiday with her parents in Portugal in 2007.

The offensive posts on the scoreboard in Mumbai. Photo / via Twitter

The message claimng to be from Elisabeth Fritzl read, "I came here in memory of my Father Josef, who loved to watch cricket with me in the basement in our home country, Austria - Elisabeth Fritzl"

Elisabeth Fritzl was kept captive by her own father for 24 years until 2008. She gave birth to seven of his children.

Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage was also a target, with the post purported from him saying: "Great to see so many Indian faces... In India! :) C mon England! - Nigel Farage."

Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage also featured. Photo / via Twitter