Ball-tampering and sledging threaten cricket’s integrity and recent poor behaviour by players “has to stop”, says International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson.
The ICC toughened its code of conduct last month, increasing the ban for ball-tampering and introducing new sanctions for personal abuse.
It follows the Australia ball-tampering scandal against South Africa in March.
“Cricket’s DNA is based on integrity,” said Richardson.
“But we have seen too much behaviour of late that puts that in jeopardy and this has to stop.
“Sledging that amounts to no more than personal abuse, fielders giving send-offs to batsmen who have been dismissed, unnecessary physical contact, players threatening not to play in protest against an umpire’s decision and ball-tampering.”
Delivering the 2018 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s on Monday, former South Africa wicketkeeper Richardson said: “This isn’t the version of our game that we want to project to the world.”
Richardson, who will step down after the 2019 World Cup in England, said the global public reaction to incidents in the Australia-South Africa Test series was “an eye-opener”.