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LEICESTER, World one-day champs Sri Lanka found a strong ally in Sir Clyde Walcott, when the former International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman spoke in support of having stump microphones switched on throughout the World Cup competition and also went on record to state that there was no evidence to suggest that Muthiah Muralitharan 'threw'.

Walcott, who is in London for ICC meetings and to promote his autobiography 'Sixty Years on the Backfoot', said he wanted sledging - abuse directed at batsmen by bowlers and fielders - outlawed.

``I would love to see it banned. What they are trying to do is make the batsmen lose concentration, but it is bad for the game and I think umpires could take stronger action to stop it. Some of them have been weak,'' he was quoted in the British press.

The 'Daily Mail' reported that the ICC had discussed leaving stump microphones switched on so offenders can be caught and punished.

Sri Lanka are one of the countries supporting the idea of having the microphones on throughout a match. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said last week: ``If you are playing the game properly you don't have to switch the microphones off. The microphones should be there full time. You tend to take such precautions only if you are worried. The public is there to support cricket and they have the right to know what's happening in the middle''.

England captain Alec Stewart is opposed to the idea, after having been caught using abusive language against Sri Lanka in the World Series Cup game at Adelaide early this year, and during the Sri Lanka's tour of England last year.

Walcott rated the Australians as the leading sledges with England in second place.

On the question of Muralitharan and why he continues to be called for throwing despite the ICC clearing his action, Walcott told 'The Daily Telegraph': ``No bowler is ever ``clear'' - that is the wrong word. All bowlers are reviewed on an ongoing basis, therefore the umpire (Ross Emerson) in Adelaide was perfectly within his rights to call Murali if he thought his action had deteriorated since the last time he was studied on video tape.

``Murali has been studied again since Adelaide and still there is no evidence to suggest, he is transgressing the law as it stands. Incidentally, our purpose is not to throw a bowler out of the game, it is to help him. If a bowler has a problem we look for him to improve his action. The ICC does more for the game behind the scenes than people realise,'' said Walcott, who still chairs the ICC cricket sub-committee.