World Cup sledgers beware

ICC chief executive David Richardson has made that clear in a wide-ranging interview, spelling out also the world governing body's commitment to continue its crackdown on suspect bowling actions and its confidence that the scourge of match-fixing will not blight the global tournament.

Speaking less than four weeks before the World Cup will get under way in Australia and New Zealand, Richardson was at pains to stress a strict disciplinary policy against "disrespectful" player behaviour.

Spats on the field have brought renewed criticism in recent weeks as BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew and New Zealand great Martin Crowe have spoken out on the issue.

Agnew lamented his perception that an apparent intention in Australia to improve behaviour on the pitch has quickly stalled, and Crowe has suggested the yellow and red-card system long used in other sports be adopted by cricket to punish offenders.

Richardson appears satisfied that current protocol is effective, but emphasises the ICC will allow little leeway.

"Over the last six months, or even going back further to the last Ashes series, there have been too many examples of player behaviour going too far and overstepping the boundaries of acceptabilities," he told icc-cricket.com.

"The amount of sledging and disrespect shown by players to each other was bad.

"Since then, we have done a lot of work with our umpires and match referees to ensure they are much more pro-active in terms of policing behaviour on the field and - when players do overstep the mark - taking appropriate action."

Richardson points to ICC's disciplinary statistics as evidence that poor standards will not be tolerated.

"Over the last three or four months, you have seen 12 ICC code of conduct charges laid against people for exactly that - disrespectful behaviour on the field.

"For the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, it will be no different - and at all pre-event briefings with the teams, the match referees will be making sure that message is delivered loud and clear."

Instances of bowlers being suspended for illegal actions have also seen a dramatic upturn in the last 12 months.

Richardson said: "We want to make sure we don't lose ground on what I think has been significant progress over the last few months.

"The game realised we had a significant problem - and there were just too many bowlers, from all teams, bowling with suspected actions.

"I think we have made very good progress in identifying those bowlers, sending them off to be tested and, where necessary, suspending them until they can remedy their actions."

Bowlers such as Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake are scheduled to take part in the World Cup, having successfully amended their actions.

Richardson added: "There might be one or two who were suspended and are now coming back into international cricket, and the challenge for them will be to make sure they maintain their remedied action.

"The instructions to the match officials will be no different, and these matches will be treated exactly the same as any other international match."

As for match and spot-fixing, the ICC hopes it has a robust defence against illegal activity.

"On the corruption side, it's safe to say we're the best prepared we've ever been," said Richardson.

"It will be very difficult for anybody outside of the game to come and even attempt to try and corrupt players, umpires or anybody involved in the World Cup, to try and fix a match."