THE behaviour of Australia's captain Ricky Ponting in Grenada led to a heavy fine and perhaps underlined the case for introducing yellow cards into top class cricket.

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When a player is required to leave the field for, say, 10 overs, the sanction might prove very effective and should complement a later fine. Ponting had to cough up 30 per cent of his match fee for apparent dissent in Australia's recent 63-run win in their one-day international against West Indies.

The penalty was imposed down by Roshan Mahanama, ICC match referee, following a hearing. Ponting was charged under clause 1.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to "showing dissent at an umpire’s decision". The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asad Rauf and Norman Malcolm, as well as third umpire Billy Doctrove and fourth umpire Clyde Duncan.

The incident happened in the 23rd over of the West Indies innings when Malcolm turned down a caught behind appeal against Patrick Browne off the bowling of Michael Clarke. The ICC held that Ponting, who had moved from his fielding position towards the pitch as part of his appeal, appeared dismayed by the umpire's decision and in the wake of that decision appeared to make a comment to the official.

Ponting pleaded not guilty to the charge at the post-match hearing, in which video evidence was used. Explaining his decision after the hearing, Mahanama said: "A captain needs to set the example and it’s not acceptable for any player, let alone a captain, to show dissent at an umpire’s decision. In the preamble to the Laws of Cricket the captains are expected to set the tone of a cricket match and a captain must set that tone for the rest of his team.

"Although the player pleaded not guilty, after scrutinising the video footage and taking into consideration the evidence submitted by the umpires I found that his actions were in breach of ICC’s Code of Conduct and decided to fine him 30 per cent of his match fee."

CHARLIE SAYS: The idea of yellow cards will have to be scrutinised at some stage, especially when enormous amounts of prize money come on stream in the new Indian Premier League and Allen Stanford era.