Watch Andrew Symonds tackle the streaker here

Andrew Symonds, the Australia batsman, could face disciplinary action after flattening a streaker during the second limited-overs tri-series final against India in Brisbane.

The naked man ran onto the pitch toward Symonds at the non-striker's end Tuesday as he attempted to evade chasing police and ground security staff at the Gabba.

Symonds, who had not scored at that stage, with Australia 34 for three chasing 259 to win and keep the three-match series alive, stood his ground and leaned into the streaker in a rugby-style shoulder charge, dropping him instantly to the ground.

The streaker, who was escorted from the field by police, faces a fine up to 3,000 Australian dollars for the pitch invasion and is expected to be charged with willful exposure by Queensland state police.

Symonds could also face a serious punishment if the International Cricket Council decides that he breached section 4.2 of the player's code of conduct relating to a physical assault of a rival player, an official or a spectator. If so, he could be suspended for five test matches or 10 limited-overs internationals up to a life ban.

Radio and TV broadcasters said they could not remember any similar incident. However, Greg Chappell, a former Australia captain, escaped a fine for hitting a streaker on the buttocks with a bat during a match in Auckland, New Zealand in 1976.

And in November 1982 Terry Alderman famously dislocated his shoulder, and subsequently missed a year and a half of cricket, after attempting to tackle an England fan who had invaded the pitch at the Waca Ground in Perth.