20 Jan 2015

Umpires 'need power' to stop on-field abuse

12:54 pm on 20 January 2015

Cricket World Cup umpires must be given more power to stop on-field abuse in the tournament that begins next month, a former New Zealander cricketer says.

David Warner batting for Australia.

David Warner batting for Australia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The comments came after Australian opener David Warner was fined for an on-field clash with Indian batsman Rohit Sharma at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

John Morrison said fining Warner $5000 was pointless, when he probably made between $2 million and $3 million a year.

Like another former New Zealand cricketer, Martin Crowe, said a carding system was needed to stop the offensive behaviour.

"I think the World Cup competition shouldn't be tarnished by a David Warner going on all day, and usually making pretty uneducated and pretty coarse sort of comments," he said.

New Zealand Cricket would not comment, saying it was a matter for the International Cricket Council.

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