NOT a single code of conduct misdemeanour was reported during the recent ICC Twenty20 tournament in England. It was a sporting occasion that made the referee job a sinecure, but the reason was probably that players did not have time to misbehave in this galloping format of cricket.

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The pace of the game means that bowlers do not spare the time to 'face down' batsmen for more than a few seconds, and so often other things are happening while the ball is live during umpiring decisions. And, needless to say, there were no bat-pad controversies because no one would dream of posting a short-leg unless the captain could find a fielder who was tired of life.

One gained the impression that 'walking' was quite common, a very laudable development, and perhaps the mindset was geared towards a short stay at the crease, so that leaving it seemed natural enough. This would not be the case in Test cricket.

The nearest form of misbehaviour I noticed was Sanath Jayasuriya blaming his bats for a shocking loss of form in the semi-final against West Indies at the Brit Oval. The left-hander changed his bat at least twice, holding up play for a considerable time while he tested alternatives. It made no difference as he scuffed around trying without success to middle the ball, but 'worker blaming tools' syndrome was not in the ICC code of conduct.

The ICC reported a 96 per cent sale of tickets for the tournament -- the double-header days were quite expensive for spectators. The group game tickets cost £60 down to £40, Super Eights £70-50, semi-finals and finals £90-50. There were big discounts down to about £10 for under-16s, and the no-alcohol family stands offered decent value, with £50 and £10 per child on offer for finals day at Lord's to watch Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka and England's women enjoying their glory. Admission for the women's group games at Taunton was dirt cheap, a fiver to get in and a quid for children. The games were very well attended by school children.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that the friendly on-field rivalry had been one of the great aspects of the tournament, a very good advertisement to the watching public. "We talk a lot about the spirit of cricket and what it means to our sport," he said, "but ultimately it is down to the players to conduct themselves in the best manner, and I have been very impressed with their contributions in that regard.

"Sometimes when the heat is on and a tense battle is unfolding, there is a tendency for players to lose their cool, but that just didn’t happen this time. It is great for the image of the game and how it is perceived by the wider public that this unique spirit is maintained."

The ICC's Welsh president David Morgan described the event as an overwhelming success and praised the efforts of the large number of people assisting the organisers. "Ticket sales were very encouraging, reflecting the enduring popularity of cricket, despite the global economic situation. There was a 96 per cent take-up of tickets for this event and certainly the atmosphere created by those large crowds formed part of why it was so successful.

"One of the most encouraging things about this tournament was the link between the men’s and women’s games. The increase in profile the women’s game received from television exposure, and the fact the men’s and women’s semi-finals and finals were played as double-headers was a great boost for the women’s game and I believe will do wonders for growth in that area. I am glad to say the next ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies will continue that exciting policy.

"On finals day at Lord’s, it was pleasing to see the parade of many of the thousands of volunteers who took part in the event. Some of these volunteers traveled great distances – even from as far away as Canada and India – to offer their services free of charge to the game. Their contribution was vital to the tournament’s success, and it was fitting that their lap of honour was met with a standing ovation around that famous cricketing arena.

"And I think it’s fair to say that in that regard, we have been royally treated over the past 17 days or so in England. The players brought this tournament alive with their innovation, passion, talent and commitment. They entertained us, thrilled us and occasionally even challenged our view of the game itself as they introduced new and wonderful feats of skill and athleticism that I for one had previously scarcely thought possible."

Morgan added: "The England and Wales Cricket Board has been a great partner for the ICC in putting on this event. From the very start of this process it was clear that we were dealing with a committed group of people – led by our excellent tournament director Steve Elworthy – who were determined to put on the best possible event and they were clearly successful."

Lorgat rightly paid tribute to the efficiency of the match officials. "I thought our umpires and match referees collectively had a great tournament. They can be very proud. The quality of decision-making was very high, but also there are plenty of aspects of an umpire’s or referee’s job that are not so visible. How they interact with players on and off the field can affect how the game is played and I think our match officials generally have a good rapport with players. There is a genuine sense of mutual respect and, perhaps more importantly, a universal respect for the game."

CHARLIE SAYS: The atmosphere at the two grounds I visited, the Brit Oval and Lord's, was excellent. The stewarding seemed thoughtful and courteous, the take-away food looked appetising (though I was lucky enough to be fed very well by the ICC) and the modernised facilities coped well enough. If anyone has views on this, I would be interested to hear.