LONDON, July 30: India batting great Sunil Gavaskar has called on cricket’s governing body, and coaches at junior level, to do more to prevent the spread of sledging in the modern game.

The former opening batsman, who scored a record 34 centuries before ending his Test career against Pakistan in 1987, believes cricket’s good name “will be mud” if stronger action is not taken soon.

“In the modern world of commercialisation of the game and the advent of satellite television and the motto of winning at all costs, sportsmanship has gone for a six,” the 54-year-old Gavaskar said during a special lecture at Lord’s on Tuesday.

“Today, although there is a code of conduct, the verbal bouncers go on pretty much unchecked and, unless something is done quickly done about it, the good name of the game that we all know will be mud.

Gavaskar, the third most prolific runmaker in Test history with a career aggregate of 10,122 from 125 matches, added that greater protection should be given to players who were subjected to on-field abuse.

“If a player even so much as glares at the umpire or stays a micro-second longer at the crease after being given out, he is hauled up and in trouble,” he said while giving the (Colin) Cowdrey lecture for 2003 at Lord’s — the home of cricket.

“If there is protection for the umpire from the players (via cricket’s code of conduct), why not protection to players from abusive players?”

Gavaskar, while emphasising sledging was not a widespread problem at Test level, echoed concerns expressed earlier this year by outgoing ICC president Malcolm Gray over Australia being the biggest offenders.

“Lest I sound pessimistic, let me say that, out of a possible 150 Test cricketers from 10 Test-playing countries, there are perhaps not even 15 who indulge in this verbal abuse and intimidation,” said Gavaskar.

“But unfortunately most of these belong to a champion side (Australia) and it makes others believe that it’s the only way to play winning cricket.

“Did Bradman’s all-conquering side of 1948 practise these tactics? I don’t know, though I know for certain that Clive Lloyd’s (West Indies) champions of the 1970s and 1980s never uttered a word on the field to an opponent.

Meanwhile Pakistan’s great and one of the best players of his generation, who recently retired Wasim Akram has come to the defence of the Australian team after they were accused of being responsible for the decline in sportsmanship in cricket.

“I think the Australians are a bit cocky and they have every right to be - they’re beating everyone and they’re a step ahead of every team in world cricket right now,” Wasim told BBC Radio Five Live.

He said it was up to referees to take a firmer grip on any behaviour that crossed the line.

“That’s what referees are there for,” he said. “Referees have to put their foot down and they have to make a bottom line. It doesn’t matter which country it is or who the captain is.”—Agencies