October 2, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 5, 1424

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MELBOURNE, Oct 1: Australian players face possible life bans for sledging if they breach a new code of behaviour, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Wednesday.

Steve Waugh’s top-ranked team have been heavily criticised in recent years for their persistent on-field sledging and CA is determined that Australian players clean up their act.

Under the new policy, players could receive a ban of between five matches and life for assault and offences of a racial or religious vilification nature, the CA said on its website.

Players could also be fined or given suspended sentences for dissent towards an umpire or excessive appealing.

“We have given our players a clear definition of what is required,” CA operations manager Michael Brown said.

“We are limited to test and domestic players, but ultimately you would like to think that local teams will adopt our guidelines.”

Bevan added that the tough penalties will be enforced during the 2003-04 season. Australia’s two-Test series against Zimbabwe starts in Perth on Oct 9.

In May this year, the outgoing International Cricket Council (ICC) president Malcolm Gray ordered a review into the behaviour of Australia’s cricketers during their away Test series with the West Indies.

Gray was especially concerned with an on-field row between Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan during the fourth Test.

The episode, where the taller McGrath made finger-pointing gestures towards his opponent, led to CA chief James Sutherland telephoning captain Waugh to voice his displeasure over what he called an “ugly incident”.

Australian Gray, who retired as ICC president in June, has urged the world body to lead the change towards better player behaviour, while adding that national cricket boards also had a responsibility to improve player behaviour.

“In terms of process it is an ICC matter, in other words the umpires, referees and so forth,” he said.

“However, in terms of the longer-term problem, it really is up to the national bodies to develop within their teams a change in culture.”

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has led criticism of Waugh’s team for their on-field sledging, while emphasising sledging was not a widespread problem at Test level.

Waugh, however, sees things a little differently.

“Of course we do things wrong and I’m not going to say we’re perfect,” he said earlier this week.

“But I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Martyn back in squad

SYDNEY, Oct 1: Australia recalled batsman Damien Martyn to the Test squad Wednesday for the team’s opening match against Zimbabwe next week in Perth, selectors announced on Wednesday.

Martyn has been sidelined for the past three months due to a fractured right index finger suffered in the World Cup in South Africa.

His return pushed Martin Love from the squad even though he had performed well during Australia’s tour of the West Indies and a series against Bangladesh in August.

“I guess it’s a sense of relief really because such is the depth in Australian cricket that as soon as you relinquish your position for injury or whatever reason, another player can just as easily take your spot,” Martyn said of his selection.

The 31 year-old right-hander celebrated his return to international ranks by slamming 30 runs (three sixes, three fours) from a single over by Sean Ervine as Zimbabwe opened their major Australian program with a one-day clash against a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI on Wednesday.

Martyn, opening the innings at Lilac Hill Park, near Perth, Western Australia, smashed 31 from eight balls before being dismissed.

“It was good to be able to provide some entertainment,” he said.

Paceman Glenn McGrath was also included in the Australian Test squad subject to fitness after ankle surgery which kept him out of the one-day series against Bangladesh.

Uncapped fast bowler Brad Williams joined the 13-man squad as cover but is likely to be dropped if McGrath is deemed fit to play.

The chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, said it was a hard decision to leave Love off the side.

Squad: Steve Waugh (captain), Ricky Ponting, Andrew Bichel, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath (subject to fitness), Brad Williams. —Agencies