New Zealand [Images] cricketers said they were victim of crowd abuse during the first Test against Australia [Images] at the Gabba [Images], where they were called "faggots".

Kiwi bowler Iain O'Brien said a part of the crowd kept throwing taunts on the visiting players.

"I don't know how many times I was called a faggot. You get called anything and everything. Embarrassing for these guys really, as a lot of the others around them are cringing.

"The crowds here are pretty good, ruined by a few, actually quite a few, idiots who think a day out at the cricket is just to abuse the guys playing any way how," Brien wrote in his blog.

Gabba has a history of irritating crowds as ace Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan [Images] faced chants of "monkey" and "chucker" in 2003.

In 2006, many South African players had claimed they had been racially taunted at Gabba.

South Africa [Images] are due to play their first Test against Australia on December 17 and CSA chief Gerald Majola hoped players will not victimised this time.

"We don't believe that will happen. I am sure Australia will take care of that. We haven't even bothered thinking about that. If it happens, I am sure Cricket Australia will take care of that," Majola was quoted as saying by Herald Sun.