The debate over on-field verbal abuse is once again in the spotlight, after the match referee controversy surrounding India in South Africa.

Those indulging in the practice can now see their team penalised five runs, although the sentence has yet to be used in Tests or one-day internationals.

"There's no such thing as sledging in our ranks," Fleming said.

"It's something I was guilty of in the past and probably on my last tour of Australia I was all for it."

"But time certainly changes things and that's not the way to go in international cricket."

The Black Caps were last month denied possible victory in a hard-fought Test series against Australia, thanks in part to bad weather and a tail end fight-back by the home side in Perth.

'Twittering birds'

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was fined �3000 during the match for verbally abusing tailender Shane Bond during the fourth day's play.

Lee was found guilty of breaking Clause C5 of the ICC's code of conduct, which reads: "Players and/or team officials shall not use crude or abusive language nor make offensive gestures."

In his autobiography published in August, Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne accused New Zealand of being the worst sledgers in the international game.

"Whether they just reserve it for us because of the geographical rivalry I don't know, but sometimes it feels like being in an aviary full of twittering birds," Warne said.