ICC to clamp down on indiscipline

The new head of the International Cricket Council Malcolm Speed has written to the captains of the 10 Test-playing nations calling on them to help clamp-down on player indiscipline.

Speed, who took over as ICC chief executive earlier this month, has also contacted top international umpires and match referees urging them to take a "tougher line" in disciplining players.

He told a news conference at Lord's on Wednesday that there had been "a number of incidents in matches over the past 12 months that have fallen below an acceptable standard...it is time to ensure that all of us charged with protecting the reputation of our great game meet the high standards expected."

Speed's letter to the captains said that he "appreciated that the international game is fiercely competitive and played for increasingly high stakes" but argued that the image of cricket was being tarnished by on-field clashes.

During England's tour of Sri Lanka at the start of the year, players from both sides were fined and given suspended bans after a string of incidents, mostly stemming from controversial umpiring decisions.

England batsman Michael Atherton later said it was the most unpleasant series he had played in.

Mail Cricket Editor