ADELAIDE. Dec I 1 (AP/AFP): Australia's top crick-eters will be called before an independent inquiry into players’ links with bookmakers following revelations that two Test players sold information to an Indian bookmaker.

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Denis Rogers said Friday that all 25 contracted players — including Waugh and Warne — would be interviewed as part of the Investigation, expected to be headed by a judge or other independent official.

Rogers said the ACB wanted to know whether any other cricketers had been Involved with bookmakers, after former Australian spinner Greg Matthews and ex-New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison revealed they had also been approached to provide information.

"Two former players said today they were approached by bookmakers for information, what I want to clear up is that there are no other sleepers in the Australian team in that context," Rogers said.

"I think the right thing to do is expand our level of inquiry to make sure that there aren't any sleepers about.

"I have a responsibility to instigate something that clears it once and for all."

Test players. Shane Warne and Mark Waugh plunged Australian cricket into a humiliating crisis Wednesday when they admitted to taking money from an Indian bookmaker for providing information on pitch and weather conditions during a 1994 tour of Sri Lanka.

Waugh and Warne, who are among Australia most popular and highest-paid players, said

they were "naive and stupid" for taking the money, but have denied any Involvement in match fixing or bribery.

The ACB was forced to go Eublic this week and reveal it ad fined Waugh 10,000 Australian dollars (US 6.400) and Wame 8.000 Australian dollars (US 5.100) over the matter, and had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to keep it

The revelations have shaken the cricket world and are almost certain to force the ICC to address the subject of illegal betting in the sport at its meeting next month in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Waugh was a crucial witness in a judicial hearing against former Pakistan.

Captain Salim Malik, who Australian players have claimed approached Waugh. Warne and Tim May to play badly in 1994. Malik has denied the claims.

Rogers, speaking publicly on the.issue for the first time, defended the ACB's silence on the matter for almost four years but said if he had been chairman il may have been handled differently.

"I want to apologise to the Australian public, especially the kids." Rogers said.

However. Prime Minister John Howard today ruled out a government inquiry into the scandal..

The Age newspaper meanwhile reported today that the ACB was considering a wide-ranging inquiry to examine the possible involvement of other Australian cricketers with bookmakers.

Board chief executive Malcolm Speed refused to confirm or deny the report.

He also declined to comment on rumours that two other players may have been involved In dealings with Indian bookies around the same time as Waugh and Wame.