Last week, the fans at The Oval for the final Test match were described as "sleepy". Actually, we were not sleepy but had been battered into submission. It was an awful day with a dreary atmosphere and totally disappointing, not only on the pitch but in the stands. I'm sure that the players must have felt the lack of support, but I would like them, and others who were not at the ground, to understand why. I took a party of seven – my two daughters, a friend, my husband, my mother and an aunt (six women and one man!). We booked our tickets months and months ago, paid £210 and were all excited about the day. On reaching the ground we were nagged by an endless loop of don'ts – albeit prefaced with a "Welcome to the Oval".

Don't shout or chant. Don't bring in a musical instrument. Don't wave a flag or a banner ... along with other more reasonable requests about alcohol and bad or racist language. All our bags were to be searched and any musical instruments, flags, banners or excess alcohol would be confiscated. Fortunately we weren't to be frisked, so I managed to hide my much-travelled, much-waved flag in a pocket. By the time we all sat down, all excitement was over for each of us. We kept our backs straight, clapped politely and whispered.

How different this was from last year, when England played the West Indians. What wonderful sights and sounds surrounded you. There were bright flags from all the different islands with cricket shirts to match, lots of large England flags and Union Jacks. Masses of laughs, shouts of joy, and a truly memorable day. The crowd were fantastic and so sporting, and those who were privileged to be there will always remember the standing ovation given to Curtly and Courtney. We'll remember this year for sheer tedium and the weight of officialdom. Welcome to The Oval? Hardly!

My love of cricket costs me hundreds of pounds every summer. My daughter and I travel widely, pay membership fees, buy tickets, souvenirs, magazines etc, and it gives us enormous pleasure. The authorities must not take people like us for granted and treat us like criminals. Football was ruined for many ordinary people when they were frightened away by being tarred with an unpleasant brush. At The Oval I felt tainted and felt I had dragged my family with me. The incident with Michael Bevan at Lord's – when he was hit by a beercan thrown by someone in the crowd – was horrible and should have been dealt with by prosecuting the man concerned, not by treating every other cricket-goer as if they were potential thugs as well.

Is a quiet crowd what the players want? Or would they rather we waved flags and showed support? Nasser Hussain thanked the Headingley crowd. I can't hear him saying the same at The Oval. Please consult the players before imposing such an atmosphere ... and maybe the fans have something of value to say as well.

Helen Rawson is a primary-school teacher and a Hampshire member. She and her 19-year-old daughter Anne are regulars at the new Rose Bowl ground, which they rate as "wonderful".


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