Moores wants stump mics turned off

Peter Moores, England's coach, believes that stump microphones should be turned down during Tests so players can sledge each other without the audience hearing.

"There must be some things that are left on the field to be fair to the players," Moores said in response to criticism of England's incessent chatter during the Trent Bridge Test. "They should be allowed to go out there and play the game without being worried that everything they actually say is going to be broadcast. It's something we've discussed as a management team and we've spoken to the match referee about it."

The International Cricket Council rules that stump microphones be turned on whenever a ball is live - that is, when a batsman takes guard, between a bowler's run-up to the time the ball reaches or passes a batsman, and from the time a fielder throws the ball back to a team-mate or onto the stumps.

Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper, was the loudest on the field but Moores stood up for him. "That's how he usually operates, that's what he does and that's what he was selected for," he said. "There's an issue as to whether stump mics should be on quite as loudly at times, so people can play their sport. Sport is a battle and that's what makes it so enthralling to watch. If people weren't bothered about it or didn't get so emotionally involved then it might become quite bland to watch."

Moores condemned the jelly bean incident, which chairman of selectors David Graveney termed "childish", but tried to defend England's conduct on the field. "Nobody would argue that a couple of lads put a couple of jellybeans down there," he said. "It was meant to be a joke and now looks a bit silly. I think people will try and read things into it, but it has no meaning whatsoever."