CA to launch ad campaign on behaviour

By Trevine Rodrigo in Melbourne

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland said he wasn't surprised that ex-Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga had told spin king Muttiah Muralitharan not to tour Down Under. But the CA boss was confident there would be no crowd behaviour issues in Australia this summer.

CA will still launch a new TV advertisement campaign aimed at stamping out poor behaviour in the stands this season, starting before the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba from November 8. All eyes will be on Muralitharan as he vies for the nine wickets needed to overhaul Shane Warne's world record of 708 Test scalps during the two-match series.

Crowds heckled Muralitharan's bowling action during his previous Australian tours after umpire Darrell Hair no-balled him seven times for throwing during the Boxing Day Test.After coping continuous "no ball" calls from the stands, the spin wizard boycotted the 2004 Top End series but played a one-off Test for the Rest of the World in Sydney two years ago. Ricky Ponting has already made a plea for Australian crowds to leave Muralitharan alone.