HOBART, Jan 14: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said Monday he would lead his players from the field if the problem of missiles being thrown onto the field continued in Tuesday’s game against South Africa.

More than 250 people were arrested when spectators began throwing missiles onto the field during Friday night’s match between Australia and the Kiwis at Melbourne Cricket Ground and play was interrupted by pitch invasions.

Sunday’s game at Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and South Africa, which attracted a crowd of more than 62,000 people, was also marred by rowdy scenes as more than 200 fans were ejected from the stadium.

“There’s been too many close calls for us to accept it’s part and parcel of the one-day game,” Fleming said here Monday.

“A player is going to get hurt and if it’s a bottle in the head, which was close to us the other night, that’s going to be serious.

“(Australia captain) Steve Waugh missed one as well, very close to his head.

“As players we don’t need that, we’re entertainers, not there to be targets. Zero tolerance is the way to go.”

Fleming said if objects were thrown onto the field during Tuesday’s match he would assemble his players in the middle of Hobart’s Bellerive Oval and if the situation became dangerous enough, they would leave the field.

However, a much smaller crowd of perhaps between 5,000 and and 10,000 is expected for the match.

“We’re used to playing in this environment,” Fleming said.

New Zealand and South Africa each have one victory from one match in the triangular series while Australia have lost both their games.

Meanwhile, cricket’s world governing body has written to the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) expressing concern over crowd behaviour at MCG, the ACB said Monday.

“That’s a harsh reminder for us that the bar has lifted in terms of the standards expected of international cricket venues and if things don’t improve at the MCG then it will come under increased scrutiny as a viable venue for international cricket,” ACB chief executive James Sutherland said of the letter from the International Cricket Council.

Gilchrist withdraws

SYDNEY: Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist is to miss Australia’s triangular series limited overs match against New Zealand in Sydney Thursday because of family reasons.

“After the recent birth of my son Harrison I was extremely keen to spend some time with him and (wife) Mel and I’m grateful for the chance to do just that in the midst of a busy schedule,” Gilchrist said Monday.

The withdrawal of the wicket-keeper/batsman places further pressure on the home side after their poor start to the series, losing to New Zealand by 23 runs Friday night and to South Africa by four wickets Sunday.

Western Australia wicket-keeper Ryan Campbell will replace Gilchrist in Thursday’s match.

“When I got the call for Australia A you could have knocked me down with a feather but this is just amazing,” Campbell said.—Reuters