It's just not cricket claims Wisden editor

LONDON, England -- The editor of cricketing "bible" Wisden has hit out at the growing threat of physical violence on the field and called on the world governing body the ICC to take firmer action.

Scyld Berry believes that incidents of physical aggression increased in 2007 and claims bodily contact could wreck the reputation of the sport.

"I fear the day is approaching when a high-profile, televised cricket match will see an outbreak of physical violence on the field - and nothing could be more injurious to all concerned," Berry wrote in his editor's notes in the 145th edition of Wisden.

"Preventing physical violence on the pitch - as more and more matches are played for more and more money - will require vision and leadership," he added.

England bowler James Anderson was fined half of his match fee in a shoulder-charging incident with West Indies batsman Runako Morton last summer while an India-Pakistan encounter saw an ugly confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi with both men squaring up to each other.

Berry praised the International Cricket Council for outlawing the practice of throwing the ball 'at' the batsman rather than 'to' the wicketkeeper during matches.

But he added: "Now the ICC must be no less effective in preventing physical violence. "For once this taboo is broken, it could rapidly spread, just as sledging - sustained personal abuse - has spread from international teams downwards."

South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was named Wisden's world cricketer for 2007 after scoring more Test runs than anyone else in the year.

The 32-year-old Kallis hit 1,210 runs at an average of 86.42 and took 20 wickets for just 25.75 runs.

The award is decided by journalists and editors at Wisden, which has been published yearly since 1864.

Kallis also hit 987 runs in 27 one-day internationals. E-mail to a friend

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