International Cricket Council president Malcolm Gray has ordered a review into the behaviour of Australia's cricketers during their recent Test series with the West Indies.

Gray said the ICC wants to take a first look at some of the incidents that marred the tour, particularly the on-field row between Glenn McGrath and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan during the fourth Test.

"From all of the reports we got it appeared...that the behaviour of the players was quite over the odds," Gray told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"It's something that we don't want in the sport and that in those circumstances, greater action and more sterner action should have been taken."

The ICC president said he thought the match officials should have taken a tougher stance against the players but said they are unlikely to face any further action after the review.

"We will review them but at this stage I don't know what action, if any, will be taken, but I suspect there won't be further action," he said.

Gray, who is an Australian national, said Australia's players had a bad reputation in the cricket community after years of on-field rows and accusations of sledging.

"Australians are not liked around the world," Gray said.

"The messages we were getting was that the Australian public and the Australian press felt it was way over the top...this time the Australian people believed the actions were beyond the pale."

Gray, who will retire as ICC president next month, said the ICC needs to lead the change towards better player behaviour but national cricket boards also have a responsibility to improve player behaviour.

"In terms of process it is an ICC matter, in other words the umpires, referees and so forth," he said.

"However, in terms of the longer-term problem, it really is up to the national bodies to develop within their teams a change in culture."