PERTH: A mid-pitch physical altercation between West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn and Australian batsmen, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, tuned so bad that umpire Billy Bowden had to literally separate the wrestling cricketers.

The drama began after Benn and Johnson collided as the batsman set off towards the wicketkeeper''s end for a single and the giant spinner tried to field the ball off Haddin.

As Johnson crossed Benn''s path the bowler grabbed his arm and shirt, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

After completing the single, an angry Haddin thrust his bat towards Benn complaining about the contact.

"Don''t push your f****** bat at me, man," Benn then yelled at Haddin, who replied: "Get back and bowl."

Gayle was forced to get involved and calm Benn down as the umpires also intervened.

Two balls later, Haddin straight drove back to Benn who then motioned to throw the ball wildly in the batsman''s direction, resulting in Haddin jumping out of the way.

Benn then charged down the pitch pointing at Haddin and in that motion his elbow hit the side of Johnson''s helmet, resulting in a push and shove between that pair before Bowden stepped in.

It is the second physical confrontation this match after Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and Dwayne Bravo exchanged shoves on Wednesday.

Haddin was dismissed shortly after for 88 from just 91 balls.

Ponting declared the innings closed at 7-520 after Johnson was dismissed for 35, caught on the boundary by Benn from the bowling of Bravo.