Sydney, Feb 21 : South African broadcaster and sports writer Neil Manthorp has said that Australian players should behave more gracefully after end of their 15 years at the top.

Manthorp, who covered the Proteas' tour in Australia this summer, is clearly not impressed by the arrogant attitude of Australian players.

His basic complaint is that Australian cricketers remain as arrogant as ever, even though they have little now to be arrogant about, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"If Australian cricket is heading towards a dark cellar, then the door at the top of the stairs has barely been opened. The residual attitude after 15 years of world domination will take a long time to be wiped away and, in the meantime, players continue to speak and behave in the manner of the glory years," he writes.

Manthorp was moved to write the article after observing Brad Haddin's testy response to the recent gloves in front of stumps incident.

"He should have had the good grace to admit his error. Australian teams have been able to wear their arrogance justifiably, based on their results and talent, for over a decade, but now is the time for humility.

"The only reason we refuse to acknowledge the evidence before our own eyes is because it involves Australia and, just like the Australians themselves, we are finding it very difficult to accept that they are unravelling - quickly," Manthrop writes.

He concludes: "Australian cricket will bounce back no doubt, but the players will find it far easier to succeed with a slice of humble pie rather than a superior sneer." (ANI)