'Someone's going to get hurt,' warns Ponting

More problems for security during the Wellington ODI © Getty Images Enlarge

Australia's cricketers will ask for plastic bottles of beer to be banned at New Zealand grounds after some players were hit while fielding during Saturday's one-day win over New Zealand.

On what was a poor day for New Zealand cricket in general, Matthew Hayden was also spat at and hit by cardboard boxes during Australia's 10-run win the opening one-dayer.

Glenn McGrath also got into an argument with a security guard on the boundary, leading to Ricky Ponting insisting that the official be removed. "I actually saw Glenn chasing the security guard," Ponting told reporters. "He told me a few overs before that he was having some problems with that guard. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to happen again and at least get that guard away."

For his part, McGrath admitted that he was not blameless. "I had ... an altercation might be the right word ... with a security guard on the fence," he explained. "But I was a bit fired up at the time, so I probably should accept 50 % of what happened there myself."

But Ponting was clearly far from happy with off-pitch behaviour which twice caused play to be stopped. "Someone's going to get hurt," he argued. "If a full plastic bottle hits someone in the eye or the back of the head, then we don't want that. Get the police involved or whatever."

And Adam Gilchrist was in no mood to disagree. "As far as bad-mouthing and personal abuse goes, the crowds here are on a par with anything we have come across, even in South Africa."

Officials will meet the company responsible for security at the venues on Monday to discuss arrangements for the next game in Christchurch.