Cricket: McGrath gives as good as he gets

If he had genuine concerns about facing a violent crowd, Australian cricket superstar Glenn McGrath was tempting fate by fielding at the boundary just metres from the terraces.

But the worst the initially-rowdy Jade Stadium crowd could give him last night was given straight back - and not just in words.

"You're just a big yellow pansy McGrath, play for a real team" was instantly answered with a wicket just a few balls into play, and a jubilant leap into the air from McGrath.

Later, when he dropped a catch, the terrace crowd was briefly consoled. But it didn't last long.

By the 17th over with six Kiwi wickets gone, even the terraces were subdued and people were starting to leave the other stands.

In response to the trouble at Saturday's game in Wellington, Jade Stadium's security offered excessive numbers of yellow-coats and police officers.

But it was quite unnecessary. The best crowd control method was to invite a superior team onto the pitch to thrash the home side and give their supporters strategic seats.

On the other side of the ground a small pocket of Australian fans put a group of raucous little boys firmly in their place after enduring hours of taunting.

"Aussie sucks, Aussies are useless, Aussies go home..." the pre-teens repeated for at least two hours until one flag-waving yellow-clothed supporter patiently advised them that they should just worry about supporting their own team.

The gentle rebuke threw the boys, who were quiet for sometime. Then Australian spinner Brad Hogg came to field in front of them and their tune changed dramatically.

"Hogg, Hogg, can I have your siggy (signature), c'mere Hogg, Hogg, pleeease..."

"Fickle, just like the Black Caps' form really," noted the flag-wavers smugly.