I listened in disbelief as Mark Taylor ostensibly advised Nathan Bracken, sporting an earpiece allowing for communication with the Channel Nine commentary team, as to where to bowl and how to bowl to Brendon McCullum and the like in Sunday's Twenty20 International.

Whereas banter with Daniel Vettori (a New Zealander, the enemy, I might add) in the innings prior was merely that - banter - the words offered to the southpaw seamer were blatant disregard for the spirit of the game and ultimately left the Kiwi captain to rue a "devastating" one-run defeat.

While it was 'Tubby' Taylor that chuckled away to Bracken, along the lines of McCullum's strengths and weaknesses, it was his colleague, Mark Nicholas that afforded the Aussie bowler the information of 'big rain being on the way' (or something to that advantageous effect). Bracken's response? 'Oh, I did not know that'.

As if my incensed fire wasn't fuelled enough, this morning's post-match utterances from the economical miser added to the reality that Taylor and Nicholas' far too forthcoming approach has all too easily gone unnoticed.

"Having the commentators in my ear telling me exactly how many New Zealand needed and trying to work out what I was bowling was a real help," Bracken enthused at the SCG press conference.

Gasp!

I'm all for innovation and the promotion of the Twenty20 revolution but, really, this sort of occurrence transcends a line that borders on poor sportsmanship. Whether it was on purpose (surely not?) or accidental, Sunday's commentators erred and Australia benefited.

The hosts knew the rain was encroaching and regardless of the fact that the match ended before the heavens opened, their gameplan, and particularly their bowling tactics, were adjusted accordingly.

As it turned out, the pressure created by Bracken's penultimate five-run over saw to it that McCullum and Grant Elliott had to go big from ball one in overs 19 and 20, both perishing as a result of the pressure brought on by Bracken's fortuitous inside info.

It was in 1999 - when squash balls in batting gloves, the Hot Spot, iron-tipped bats and television coverage innovation were far from the great game's radar - that Hansie Cronje took to the field against India with an earphone strapped to his lobe. That modernistic move on Cronje and Bob Woolmer's part was quickly scoffed at and subsequently barred.

Now though, with the threat of dwindling crowds and fierce competition amongst the various commentary co-ops, it seems anything goes. But just how far will it be allowed to go...?