The offer to take a phone call and provide information was declined, the Dominion newspaper today said.

``I just looked at him and said: ``Are you serious?'', the Paper quoted Morrison as saying.

Morrison's statement comes barely three days after news of Australian players Mark Waugh and Shane Warne having received money from a Chennai-based bookmaker in exchange for information on pitch and weather conditions shook the cricket world.

According to the reports, the approach made to Morrison during the Test, which ended in a draw, was a common practice familiar to players, officials and journalists.

The Evening Post said: ``Journalists and cricket match officials in New Zealand are well aware of the phonecall frustrations linked to Indian bookmakers.

``During the 1989-90 Indian tour of New Zealand, press box telephones were constantly called by an Indian gentleman wanting to know the state of play and the weather, and team line-ups. Match officials took similar calls.''

Former New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chairman Peter McDermott said he was disappointed Morrison didn't report the matter to NZC.

At one time the calls to players were so numerous that they were forbidden to receive cellphone calls in the dressing rooms, McDermott said.

While saying he was unaware of any New Zealand player having talked to Indian bookmakers or accepted money, McDermott described how once, when he was at the Auckland Cricket Association office, former New Zealand player Phil Horne received a call from an Indian seeking information.

``We thought it was a very enthusiastic (Auckland-based) Indian checking up on the game,'' McDermott said.

He now believes it may have been the same bookmaker who was calling up the press.

Former Kiwi captain Martin Crowe said he had never been offered money for information. But he said before games he used to get numerous calls, especially in India, and many of the times he did not know who he was talking to.

``There are so many journalists over there and they are all seeking the same information, it is difficult to know.''