Australia's generation next lectured on match-fixing

ADELAIDE, APRIL 20. Australia's next generation of Test cricketers were on Wednesday lectured on the dangers of match- fixing in the sport.

Rod Marsh, former Test wicketkeeper and head coach of the Adelaide-based Cricket Academy, said knowing what's right and wrong was common sense.

``You can't teach them how to deal with it, you let them know that it's just not on but at their level, it's just an education thing,'' he said.

Marsh said academy cricketers also learned about financial investment, etiquette and other issues. Marsh said he would have no problem talking about the infamous bet he and fast bowler Dennis Lillee made on England to win a Test match against Australia in 1981 at Headingley.

The pair bet that England would win the match at odds of 500-1. Despite needing just 130 runs to win the Test, Australia could manage only 111 after English pace bowler Bob Willis returned figures of eight for 43 in the second innings.

''I have no problems about talking to anyone about that,`` Marsh said. ''That's something that happened, that's a fact of life, and I had a five quid bet, I mean, big deal. Most Australians have done that.``

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