London: A diplomatic row has erupted after the secretary-general of the Commonwealth invited heads of state and foreign ministers to a charity cricket match in Adelaide in December without consulting the Australian government.

In an extraordinary breach of diplomatic protocol Baroness Patricia Scotland invited representatives of as many as 53 Commonwealth nations to the all-star cricket match, while attending the United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York last month.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have learnt the Australian government had not been briefed on the event before the invitations were issued.

In response Australia's usually mild-mannered Foreign Minister Marise Payne penned a blistering letter to Baroness Scotland, demanding she "cease and desist" inviting leaders to the December 5 event.