Former New Zealand opening batsman Mark Richardson has said that he would be shocked if any New Zealand cricketer dared to sledge Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke on his separation from model Lara Bingle during the Test series starting on Friday.

"I would hope that none of our players would go there and I don't think they would," ' Richardson told The Sun-Herald yesterday.

"I'd be horrified to think that they would. I don't think they would go there at all when he comes back for the Test matches. Most of our team is married and has kids," he added.

Richardson, who famously caught Shane Warne on 99 in a Perth Test match in 2001, said players out in the middle should leave a cricketer's private life alone.

"My personal opinion when it comes to sledging is that you leave someone's non-cricket life and their personal life alone," he said.

"I just think it's very poor form and very poor sledging as well. I think when players leave the park, they're not cricketers any longer. They're people."

The left-hander said he was not sure what impact the saga would have on Clarke.

"I hope, for Michael's sake, that he's sorted things out, cleared his head and he's got his personal life back to where he wants it, and he can contribute on this tour." (ANI)