Displeased Batty retorts at angry Worcestershire fans; feels club will never make it to final

The relationship between Gareth Batty and Worcestershire fans hasn't been the greatest ever since the offbreak bowler left the club eight years ago. On Saturday (June 17), it was no different when Surrey registered a comfortable 153-run win over his former club to enter the Royal London One-Day Cup final. Even as there were boos and cat calls from the crowd in Worcester, Batty went on to bag a fifer and register his best figures for Surrey (5 for 40).

Not one to take the taunts lightly, the 39-year old went after the opposition fans after the match and said that Worcestershire fans will never be able to see their team in the final. "Everytime we win and particular when there is a bit of banter flying around, you just want to show people that things can change and people do change," Batty said.

"It was not nice, I'm not going to lie, but it's not going to change my life. I go back home to my daughter tonight and that's the best thing that will happen to me today," he added. "You heard it - a few idiots on the boundary. They will go home and to work tomorrow and I will have a day off with my daughter and probably have another day off on Monday as well.

"I hope they think about that and we are playing in a final at Lord's which they will never do."

This wasn't the first time the Surrey captain got into a confrontation with Worcestershire fans. In the summer of 2010, soon after joining Surrey, he was abused by the fans in consecutive games. After the second incident, he entered the crowd and confronted a spectator, before being taken away by Ian Salisbury, a member of Surrey's coaching staff.

Defending Batty's actions, Chris Adams, Surrey's coach had said then: "It's quite sad that he wasn't afforded respect by the supporters after putting in long service here," he said. "He's a feisty lad, plays with a lot of passion and he wears his heart on his sleeve. I'm sure that when he reflects on it, he'll be disappointed that he allowed himself to react."

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