Cricket: McGrath calls for on-field restraint

SYDNEY - Glenn McGrath says the Australian cricketers need to "pull their heads in a bit" after a spate of bad on-field behaviour.

On Sunday night, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist became the third member of the national side to be charged with an offence in a fortnight, for his exchange with Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar.

Gilchrist's troubles come after pacemen Brett Lee (dissent) and McGrath (obscene language) were reprimanded for indiscretions during the New Year's test against South Africa in Sydney.

The gloveman fell foul of officialdom after complaining when a run-out decision in Friday's tri-series match at the Gabba was not referred to the third umpire.

Dar had ruled that Proteas opener Boeta Dippenaar was not out, but television replays showed him in mid-air when a throw from Andrew Symonds broke the stumps. Players are not allowed to request that decisions be referred upstairs where officials can be aided by technology.

Australian bowlers have been increasingly keen this summer to ask umpires the reasons for their appeals being turned down.

McGrath said yesterday that the team needed to curb their emotions on the field, but he still felt the umpires had to be approachable.

"At the end of the day it is up to the captain [to talk to umpires] and it should be left that way, and we just need to pull our heads in a little bit."

McGrath was involved in one of the most memorable on-field clashes of recent times, with the paceman verbally abusing West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan from close range in the Caribbean in 2003.

The player-led Spirit of Cricket code was instigated later that year in what was seen as a bid to combat the national side's poor behaviour.

It states in the code: "We play our cricket hard but fair and accept all umpiring decisions as a mark of respect for our opponents, the umpires, ourselves and the game."

McGrath felt the Australian team had been well-behaved before the recent run of incidents.

"It hasn't been a good year for us considering it is not even a month old, but you look at our track record over the last sort of 12 to 18 months, two years, it has been exceptional," he said.

"Hopefully it is one of those things that pass, and we won't be seeing the match referee anymore."

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said: "It is always disappointing when there is a bad day. The players take seriously the pledge they have made."

- AAP