MELBOURNE, Oct 20: Former Australia fast bowler Paul Wilson became the first victim of Cricket Australia’s new tough line on player behaviour when he was fined half his match fee for abusive language on Monday.

The Western Australia player was censured after confronting South Australia’s John Davison during their four-day interstate match in Perth on Sunday at the start of the 2003-4 season.

Wilson, 30, has played one Test and 11 One-day Internationals.

Cricket Australia, the sport’s national ruling body, warned players at the start of the month that they could face life bans if they breached a new code of conduct.

Australia Test captain Steve Waugh said the players had written a new set of conduct guidelines themselves, included in CA’s code of behaviour, urging each other to cut out personal insults and accept umpiring decisions.

Waugh’s world champions have been criticised in recent years for over-aggressive sledging. Waugh used to defend his side, saying they were using abuse as a tactic in the hope of causing “mental disintegration” among their opponents.

Some recent incidents, however, have been viewed with distaste even in Australia. Fast bowler Glenn McGrath was criticised for an angry exchange with West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan earlier this year.—Reuters