MacLaurin calls for tougher stance from match referees

Lord MacLaurin, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has issued a call for a tougher stance against on-field misbehaviour in Test Matches.

Speaking in the aftermath of a controversial series between Sri Lanka and England, which occasionally threatened to spill over, Lord MacLaurin recommended that players who dispute umpiring decisions or who try to put pressure on officials should receive bans from the game.

Making a business comparison to stress his point, Lord MacLaurin said: "The match referee is the managing director of a Test match and he has to make sure everything is right. If players continue to transgress they should be suspended for one or two matches."

MacLaurin suggested that by cracking down hard on miscreants, an example could be set that would convince other players to think twice before offending. Although several players did receive fines in the recent series, and Graeme Hick and Sanath Jayasuriya were given suspended bans, MacLaurin recommended that the match referee should be prepared to go further to ensure that discipline is maintained.

"The administrators have to be tough and if they start removing players when they transgress they will soon come into line. We have to be tough because the game is moving on," he warned.

Lord MacLaurin also confirmed that he is to discuss the issue of central contracts with Duncan Fletcher in the next few days. The contracts have been widely regarded as a key factor in the resurgence of the England team and coach, Duncan Fletcher, is believed to want to extend the number of players included in the scheme.