Dubai/ Cape Town, Dec. 10 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sent out a clear signal to sledgers by indicating that it is seriously considering the imposition of harsher penalties for verbal abuse.

"There was also a feeling among CEC members that a stronger stance needed to be taken against players guilty of verbal abuse," The Age quoted an ICC statement, as saying.

Harsher interpretations and penalties for players would be a bitter pill for the Australian players to swallow, given their tradition of "mental disintegration" to unsettle opponents.

Australia''s approach, mirrored by nations such as South Africa and New Zealand but viewed less kindly in India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, contributed to ugly scenes on the subcontinent where Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Simon Katich were embroiled in toe-to-toe battles with locals.

During one "verbal", Indian Gautam Gambhir elbowed all-rounder Watson in the chest while running down the wicket, an action that ensured he was banned from the final Test in Nagpur. (ANI)