Punishment for dishonest batsmen proposed; Matt Prior takes cue

Sydney, Apr 6 (UNI) In a radical proposal, ICC match referee Chris Broad has called for a system of fining batsmen who refuse to ''walk'' when there is clear video evidence they have edged a ball.

Broad has floated the idea with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a bid to stop batsmen occupying the crease at any cost.

''I think if it's found out that a player has got away with an edge or some kind of dismissal, there should be some kind of retrospective punishment for that particular player,'' Broad said.

''I feel that would put the onus back on the player, that if he nicks it and he gets away with it on the field, he knows he's not going to get away with it when the match referee or the third umpire sees it,'' Broad was quoted as saying by The Courier-Mail.

''Walking'' has invited a lot of debate and while some uphold it as an act of honesty and gamesmanship, others simply consider it as disregard of umpire.

Prominent players who have ''walked'' at some point or the other in their career include Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara et al.

A new name was added to the list today after England opener Mathew Prior walked away after edging S Sreesanth to keeper M S Dhoni without waiting for the umpire's signal in the match against India in Kochi.

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