Umpires Association chairman Peter Willey has hit out at what he claims is a lack of backing for match officials from the International Cricket Council.

Former Test umpire Willey believes it is "a waste of time" reporting players for bad behaviour in international games because of the failure by the ICC to take firm enough action against them.

The ex-England batsman, who still umpires in the county game, believes suspensions and not fines are the way to curb the antics of certain players.

Willey was speaking at the first official pre-season get-together of English umpires, who were put through their paces in terms of fitness and had their eyesight and hearing tested at Loughborough.

Willey said: "When I first started playing in the middle 1960s you respected everything the umpire did. There was no arguing or dissent about being given out or not out.

"When I was playing in the second XI, if you didn't walk when you nicked the ball you would get a telling off.

"County cricket is still pretty good and there is respect but I lose a bit of heart when I see what happens with the elite umpires who don't seem to get much backing from the ICC.

"There has been talk about players being banned but nobody has been close really. Why don't the umpires get support?

"It is all down to politics in Test cricket. Everyone I speak to has got their own ideas as to what causes these problems."

He added: "I think from grass roots level up to Test level, if you know you will get 100% backing from your board or international council, you will try and do things properly.

"But if you think it is a waste of time telling someone off or reporting them because nothing is going to happen, you just don't bother.

"There needs to be more backing for umpires from the people in charge. Fines don't mean a lot because players get paid that much money, but suspensions is different."

Willey, however, is less concerned about the amount of sledging that goes on in today's game.

He said: "If you can't handle anyone sledging you, you shouldn't be out there. You should be strong enough to give it back.

"I always say to my son 'If someone sledges you, just go on and win the game'. That annoys people more than anything.

"In any case, sledging today is sissy stuff compared to years ago. You used to have words with the opposition, have a drink in the bar, laugh about it, and it was forgotten the next day." 

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