Darren Lehmann was suspended for five one day cricket matches after racial comments made against a Sri Lankan player. ABC news By missing only the five games it means that he will be available for the start fo the world cup next month.

Now, as for arguments that 'it was said in the dressing room' so it doesn't count ... I'm sorry but that doesn't wash with me. If it was said loud enough to hear OUTSIDE the dressing room, tough, he got what he deserved.

I'm with you Copago - there's Sledging, barracking and banter (acceptable if it's kept within limits) and then there's the line that shouldn't be crossed at any time. I think Lehmann has been lucky to only receive a 5 match ban.

It has to be done away with. I beleive he probably meant nothing by it and it was just a loose statement but he's a professional sportsman and an example to everyone. The press has been very damaging. He wont recover from this I don't think.

Actually he got away lightly - as per the ICC code of conduct, this is among the highest form of crime(?) - upto 8 matches

He may well not recover, Bertho, especially if Clarke keeps playing okay.

Was it watson or Williams (him I think)in last nights game that looked like he went off at the Sri Lankan opener whose name i can't spell?Why is it that the Australians are so arrogant? Used to be they'd get that way when they had been playing in the national team a while adnd now it seems they're coming in with the attitude!

I reckon they're a bunch of sooks Copago. You never see too much bad sportsmanship from the Aussie team......unless they're getting beaten or under pressure. They then start acting poor little rich kids that had their Mercedes keys confiscated by dad.

In cricket, like all sport, winning is an extreme attitude. Sledging is a part of the cricket psych and Australia take full advantage of it. It should never cross certain boundaries but it does at times, when the pressure is up. It needs to be erradicated and disgracing Lehmann might not be a terrible thing for the game. I'd hate to see sledging go completely.

Here's some excellant sledges from days gone by. I put it in Jokes and Humour Sledges

the ICC code of conduct came after "Mike Dennis" episode with Indians - I remember after that in India, it was the White man Vs the rest (or rather how the latter gets away with murder on the crikcet field) - there were a wide variety of programmes showing "misbehaviour" by White cricketers - it might interest the aussies that all players in the 5 minute video were Aussies!

A good point is being raised about how the ICC were tough on Lehmann and are still going to play games in Zimbabwe. Without getting into a debate about Zimbabwe politics it does seem a little hypocritical.

According to the radio and Tv - The ICC representatives are currently in Zimbabwe to finalise the arrangements for the games to be played there. A meeting of the ICC board will take place on Friday and an announcement will be made shortly after.
Anyone placing bets on world cup games not being held in Zimbabwe and being moved to South Africa, must be odds-on giving everyone the opt-out of not playing there without actually saying so. I think there will be a statement to the effect that "Player and Spectator safety cannot be guaranteed given the current situation" And I would back that statement to the hilt, I don't think that the sport should be used to make a political statement (I know Mugabe will do so whatever the decision!) and I hope that the games are re-sited to a "neutral" venue. The Barmy Army would never get back home otherwise !

Unfortunately it looks like the "spectator" sarfety part of the clause has been overlooked but what is now going to happen now New Zealand have openly said they won't play in Kenya?