Cricket: New rules to test players

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Penalties ranging from 50 per cent of a player's match fee to life bans will be imposed on out-of-line players under far-reaching rule changes being considered by the International Cricket Council.

Speaking in Christchurch yesterday after the under-19 World Cup, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said specific penalties for specific offences would be introduced under four distinct categories.

* Category one (for minor offences) would incur a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee.

* Category two would cost a player between 50 and 100 per cent of his fee and up to a one-match ban.

* Category three would bring bans of between two and four matches.

* Category four (for very serious offences)would incur from a five-match to a life ban.

The bans related to test matches. They would be doubled for one-day international offences.

Under current rules, players can be fined up to 75 per cent of their match fee and receive a maximum ban of three tests or five to six one-day matches.

"These new regulations will be more specific," Speed said. "Ultimately, the aim is to improve player behaviour."

But even Speed did not how the new rules would work.

Where, for example, did sledging fit into the new legislation?

The new-look structure was drawn up after a meeting of chief executives, including New Zealand Cricket boss Martin Snedden.

Their recommendations would be taken to the umpires and referees committee for a final decision.

This would be made before the new-look international panel of eight umpires and five match referees is announced in April.

Speed said the ICC was determined to "wheel out a significantly better product than we have now."

He said there were different opinions on the future of bonus points in one-day internationals.

"In the under-19 World Cup, with a great number of teams, it was quite effective," said Speed.

"Maybe not so in the three-team VB Series in Australia. My opinion is that we want both teams playing all matches right to the finish."

Of criticism of umpiring decisions and the call for greater use of technology, Speed said: "Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, umpires get decisions right in the heat of the moment. There is always an enormous emphasis when he gets it wrong."

Following discussions, it seemed the only addition to instances when technology could be used would be with the vexed front-foot no ball call.

This would be tested in domestic cricket before being contemplated in international play.