The editor of the 2008 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has called on the game's authorities to take a strong stand against the "physical violence" he believes is damaging the sport in the latest edition of 'cricket's bible'.
Scyld Berry, editing Wisden for the first time, wrote: "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."
He added, in the 145th edition of Wisden, published annually since 1864: "Preventing physical violence on the pitch - as more and more matches are played for more and more money - will require vision and leadership."
England fast bowler James Anderson was finied 50 percent of his match fee in a shoulder-charging incident with West Indies batsman Runako Morton last year.
But Berry said the "worst example came in the Kanpur international when Gautam Gambhir ran straight down the pitch and straight into Shahid Afridi".
Berry, the cricket correspondent of Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper, praised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for outlawing the practice of throwing the ball 'at' a batsman rather than 'to' the wicket-keeper.
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."
Turning to English cricket, Berry noted how the England and Wales Cricket Board had so far failed in their goal of creating a leading international side.
England are currently ranked fourth in Test cricket and seventh in one-day internationals while, like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, they have yet to win a major one-day tournament, something the ECB wants achieved by 2009.
Berry said the success of the England team was the motor which would drive progress in all other areas of the English game.
Reflecting on England's Ashes win of three years ago, he wrote: "We all know from the glorious summer of 2005 that nothing makes the sport grow in every way so much as the success of the national team.
"Many more people watched and played than the usual white, male, middle-class constituency. To be the best has to be the primary objective of the game's governing body. Nothing less."
