Adam Gilchrist has slammed fans for taking a "soft option" by booing the Australian cricketers as they toiled in the field against India at the SCG.

The boos came when Stuart MacGill dropped a straight forward chance off VVS Laxman at midwicket as India reached 5-650 at stumps on day two.

There were also jeers on day one for Ricky Ponting after some poor fielding

Gilchrist said the 41,000 fans who'd come in the hope of seeing Steve Waugh bat in his final Test would have been disappointed at the day's proceedings but that was no excuse to turn on the Australian players.

"The crowd has been hyped-up and built up hoping for a huge performance from the Australian team, obviously for Steve Waugh, but it hasn't panned out that way.

"It's not through any lack of application by us but by a brilliant performance by the Indians. So there's probably a mixture of frustration and disappointment that the crowd's not part of a fairy tale that they hoped for.

"And it's the end of a long day when they've probably had a fair amount to drink too but it's a pretty easy option to boo - it's a soft, cheap option to boo - because we're trying our best."

Gilchrist said the boos hadn't affected the team.

"We know as quickly as they boo, the moment we do something well they'll cheer - that's just the fickle nature of the business we're in."

Gilchrist refused to accept the match was lost even though Australia was staring at the daunting prospect of making 500 runs just to avoid the follow-on.

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