Australian team has a "handful of idiots" John Reid

Hamilton, Mar 8: Former New Zealand captain and ICC match referee John Reid has said the Australian team includes "idiots" who need to pull their heads in.

Both the New Zealand and Australian camps are reveling in the passion and emotion generated by New Zealand''s sensational victory in the second international Twenty20 game and the opening clash of the five-match one-day series at Napier.

Tempers were flaring during the Napier ODI where Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson''s head-butt to New Zealand batsman Scott Styris''s helmet took hostilities into another realm.“The spirit the game is played in is the most important thing. Like it or not, these guys are role models for youngsters. It''s an old-fashioned term, but it''s a fact. Johnson was the aggressor, but he''s mad headbutting someone with a helmet on,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Reid, as saying.

"Generally the Australian team looks good, but there are a handful of idiots who need to be reined in. Do your work with the bat and the ball, not your mouth. It''s not necessary," he added.

Commenting about Johnson being fined 60 percent of his match fee by match referee Ranjan Madugalle for headbutting Styris''s helmet, Reid said: “Johnson was the most fortunate to escape a ban for his headbutt. I refereed with Madugalle for 10 years."

"I think he did a reasonable job, but if anything he could have come down a bit tougher,” he added.