Cricket: No Twitter for England players

England's cricketers are facing a ban from using Twitter during this year's Ashes series following a crackdown by team management.

Cheeky spinner Graeme Swann and swing bowler James Anderson are prolific users of the online forum while Kevin Pietersen has also built up a following.

The Daily Mail said that England team management, supported by captain Andrew Strauss, are determined to write a new clause in the new ECB contracts for 2010/11 banning players from tweeting on England duty.

The newspaper said the team's brainstrust feared dressing room secrets becoming public while the newspaper said advisers from the Professional Cricketers' Association had argued that existing regulations already dealt with misdemeanours.

Australia opener Phil Hughes showed the dangers of using Twitter last year by confirming he had been dropped from the side for the third Ashes Test some hours before the toss.

There are other concerns the practice could distract players from their jobs and potentially inflame situations.

Well-built England all-rounder Tim Bresnan found himself in hot water last year for firing an abusive message after taking offence at a distorted picture posted on the social networking site that exaggerated his arms and stomach.

Former England U/19 captain Azeem Rafiq also highlighted the problems associated with instant messaging with his foul-mouthed tirade on his national coach after he was dumped as captain.

It led to him to a fine of STG500 and a one-month ban.

- AAP