TIM PALMER: To cricket: and the batsman Chris Gayle has been forced into a defensive stance throughout the day after crudely flirting with Channel Ten sports reporter Mel McLaughlin during a live interview last night.

The West Indian batsman apologised this morning, but at the same time insisted it was all a simple joke and that no harm was caused, before walking out on another female journalist's question at a media conference.

A very short while ago, his employer stepped in. The CEO of his Renegades Big Bash League handed Chris Gayle a $10,000 fine but did not suspend him, referring to "cultural differences," accusing critics of "utilising the situation" and describing Gayle's behaviour as a "one-off scenario."

But female sports journalists say it's not the first time Gayle has made inappropriate remarks; one describing him as "creepy". They say that having to put up with unwanted advances or sexual innuendo has been part of their job for too long.

Bonny Symons-Brown reports.

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: Sports journalists Melinda Farrell and Neroli Meadows weren't surprised when their colleague, Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin, was propositioned on live TV last night.

(Excerpt from Channel 10 interview)

MEL MCLAUGHLIN: It looks like you're absolutely just smashing this innings.

CHRIS GAYLE: Yeah, definitely. I mean, I wanted to come and have an interview with you as well. That's the reason why I'm here: so, just to see your eyes for the first time.

(Sound of off-screen laughter)

CHRIS GAYLE: It's nice, so hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after. Don't blush, baby.

(Excerpt ends)

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: McLaughlin was attempting to interview Melbourne Renegades import Chris Gayle about his successful stand in the Big Bash League match in Hobart.

But in an incident Farrell told ABC Grandstand was all too common, McLaughlin wasn't taken seriously.

(Excerpt from ABC Grandstand)

MELINDA FARRELL: She just shouldn't have been put in that position.

It's just really upset me straight away. I just feel really sorry for her because she's kind of in a really difficult position now where if she says something, she's going to be lambasted and if she doesn't say something she's going to be lambasted.

She's got to rely on the people around her to stand up for her and actually say, "That's not OK."

(Excerpt ends)

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: Melinda Farrell works for ESPN Cricinfo; Neroli Meadows at Fox Sports.

Today both women revealed they too had been the victims of inappropriate behaviour from Chris Gayle in the past.

(Excerpt from ABC Grandstand)

NEROLI MEADOWS: I knew straight away he was going to do it. The moment that he got out, I knew that he was going to go off and he was going to say something to that effect, because he's done it before.

He's done it to me. He's done it to several women. He does this constantly. He's a creep.

I think it was five or six years ago: when he first joined the Thunder, it was an entirely filled press conference 'cause it was big news in Sydney.

He went at me once in the press conference: OK, fine, whatever. You're having a laugh. You're Chris Gayle. Everyone laughs.

He did it again: it's cringy. You could almost hear the cringing. It's not OK. And then to come up afterwards, stand over me: "So when are we going for this drink? When are..."

It makes you - he's a big guy. It makes you feel intimidated and it's just not OK.

MELINDA FARRELL: Nez, you don't know this 'cause we've never discussed it, but he did the same thing to me just before that press conference.

(Excerpt ends)

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: Neroli Meadows said sexist behaviour towards female sports journalists had been accepted for far too long.

(Excerpt from ABC Grandstand)

NEROLI MEADOWS: What really disappoints me is the fact that people still laugh - and the fact that when somebody like myself or Mel says, "It's not OK," people say, "Oh, it's free speech. Ah, it's a bit of fun. Oh, don't take it so seriously."

It happens 10 times a day when you're a female in this sports industry, and that's just a fact.

Perhaps for one second, just trust us. Rather than saying, "What a bunch of whinging women," just trust us that maybe we're telling the truth and maybe it is upsetting and it does happen all the time and it's not OK.

And maybe just back us in on that. Just once: just back us in.

(Excerpt ends)

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: Lisa Sthalekar is a former international cricketer and now part of the Women's Big Bash League.

She was in the same job as Mel McLaughlin just two nights ago, boundary riding at a men's BBL match.

Lisa Sthalekar says, while she's never experienced harassment herself, Gayle was out of line.

LISA STHALEKAR: There'll be some people thinking, "Well, you know, that's just a bit of banter and that's sport." But like I said: it's a workplace. And you know, would that be allowed in other workplaces? I'm not sure.

Let's just say: I don't think it should be part of the cricket scene.

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: Melbourne Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry this afternoon announced Gayle would be fined $10,000 over the incident. Coventry apologised to McLaughlin, but said the incident was a one-off and a joke.

STUART COVENTRY: We've done a fair bit of history and research today and we do think it is a one-off. We think it's probably more of a cultural indifference: why he said it. And it was done in jest, so... but it's inappropriate and we've taken this course of action.

BONNY SYMONS-BROWN: It's estimated Gayle makes around $2 million in the Indian Premier League alone. His $10,000 fine will be donated to breast cancer charity The McGrath Foundation.

TIM PALMER: Bonny Symons-Brown reporting.