Yuvraj Singh has a sense of humour. He also has a temper. Fortunately he didn't get physical with the spectators who teased, taunted and tormented him at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Tuesday. He was reportedly called water boy by some cricket fans.

A few years ago at the Wankhede Stadium, during a Mumbai vs Punjab Ranji Trophy game, Yuvraj went up to the stand at the pavilion end with a bat to deal with a spectator, who wouldn't get off his back with a series of verbal attacks. Luckily, a physical confrontation didn't materialise and the spectator escaped the young Yuvraj's wrath.

Times have changed. Spectators are now abusive as compared to the good-humoured ones of yore. Players have become less tolerant what with the constant media glare. Sure, it comes with the job but the ground authorities should ensure the spectators do not get too close to the players' enclosure. All it takes is one bad element to cause a row and the problem escalates if he has had one too many mugs of beer.

There have been cases of players getting injured in scuffles. An incident, which comes to mind, concerns former Australian swing bowler Terry Alderman during a Test against England at the Western Australia Cricket Association ground in Perth, 1982. A drunk spectator hit him on the head and while Alderman was tackling him, he dislocated his shoulder. He had to be stretchered off the ground and missed the rest of the season.