Indians especially seniors were never involved in sledging. Although Sourav Ganguly showed some aggression but with in a smile on his face and Waugh’s subsequent irritation and complaints were the reaction of a man. Apart from talent and Dad’s army(average of 30 years), sledging had always been the mantra of Aussie’s success. In spite of getting some witty replies in the past they never changed themselves and always been in front to wind up the opposition by all possible means including swearing and personal remarks. But in this series(Aussie’s in India, 2007) they are getting frustrated and annoyed on being at the receiving end of sledging. Sreesanth has managed to take the sledging spotlight away from its most skilled practitioners.
Frustrated and annoyed, Aussies are now teaching lessons to Indians that what sledging and aggressions means?. If Ponting and Gilchrist were not enough, the former Australian offspinner Gavin Robertson also got involved. I won’t blame you if you guys don’t know about Gavin Robertson, he has only played 4 Test matches and 13 ODI for Australia, and in that short duration he has only learned how Aussies do sledging and how they deal with it.
What is Sledging?
Sledging is the practice in cricket of insulting opponents to break their concentration and cause them to make mistakes. Sledging is effective because the batsman stands within hearing range of the bowler and certain fielders. The aim is to intimidate or distract the batsman into making a fatal mistake and being dismissed. Sledging thus tries to “break the flow” of the batsman’s game
History of Sledging in Cricket
According to Ian Chappell,”Sledging” originated from Adelaide in the 1963-1964 or 1964-1965 Sheffield Shield season. A cricketer who swore in the presence of a woman was taken to be like a sledgehammer, and so called a “Percy” or “Sledge” from singer Percy Sledge (whose song When a Man Loves a Woman was popular at the time). Thus, directing insults or obscenities at the opposition team became known as “sledging”.
Ricky Ponting says
A few of the Indians have reacted very much with aggressive body language and trying to force themselves upon us, and I think the way some of them are playing their cricket that they have also misinterpreted what aggressive cricket means.
Andy Gilchrist says
I saw some really hard fought cricket,There were some comments between different players and that happens.I also saw a few things that I wouldn’t expect from my son Harrison in a backyard game of cricket.There is no doubt the way Sreesanth wants to play cricket. When we get our chance, we’ll play aggressive cricket too.
Anyways, let us have a look on what Gilchrist expects from his son Harrison to do in game of Cricket and what Ricky ponting means from Aggression?
Ravi shastri v/s Mike Whitney
Shastri hits the ball towards Mike Whitney (the 12th man in the game) and looks for a single, this guy gets the ball in and says
Whitney: “If you leave the crease i’ll break your f***ing head”
Shastri didn’t bat an eyelid before replying : ” If you could bat as well as you can talk you wouldn’t be the f***ing 12th man”
McGrath Vs Brandes
In a showdown of best pacers of two countries, Brandes made up for his complete absence of batting skills by some displaying some great sense of humor and presence of mind.
Aussie paceman Glenn McGrath was bowling to Zimbabwe number 11 Eddo Brandes - who was unable to get his bat anywhere near the ball. McGrath, frustrated that Brandes was still at the crease, wandered up during one particular over and inquired: ” Why are you so fat?”
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: “Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit .
McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan
Sarwan, the West Indies vice-captain, and McGrath went toe-to-toe in an ugly shouting match in Antigua in May 2003, The incident was sparked after Sarwan, on his way to a match-winning second-innings century, reportedly reacted to lurid taunts from McGrath by telling him he should get the answers from his wife, who was recovering from radiation therapy for secondary cancer. The details :
McGrath: “So what does Brian Lara’s d*ck taste like?”
Sarwan: “I don’t know. Ask your wife. “
McGrath (losing it): “If you ever F*cking mention my wife again, I’ll F*cking rip your F*cking throat out.”
Steve Waugh Vs Curtly Ambrose Episode
It really does not get any bigger than this, the two legends of cricket came face to face, literally and engrossed in a verbal duel in a test match in Trinidad. All the juicy details were not to be known until Steve Waugh came out with his autobiography.
Ambrose repeatedly stared Waugh down during a searing spell, and Waugh, who sized up the towering Ambrose, said: ” What the f*ck are you looking at? “
Ambrose was stunned because, as Waugh says (in his Autobiography), “no one had ever been stupid enough” to speak to him like that.
Ambrose replied, “Don’t cuss me, man”, before Waugh’s response, which had nothing to do with bowling.
“Unfortunately, nothing inventive or witty came to mind, rather another piece of personal abuse: ‘Why don’t you go and get f*cked.’ “
The Windies skipper Richie Richardson had a hard time keeping Ambrose from hurting the Aussie.
Ian Healy Vs RANatunga
Ian Healy’s made a legendary comment which was picked up by the Channel 9 microphones when Arjuna Ranatunga called for a runner on a particularly hot night during a one dayer in Sydney… ” You don’t get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c*nt!”
Mark Waugh Vs Adam Parore
Mark Waugh was standing at second slip, Adam Parore relatively new to cricket came to the crease played & missed the first ball.
Mark Waugh- “Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then, you’re fu*king useless now”.
Parore- (Turning around) “Yeah, that’s me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly sl*t & now I hear you’ve married her. You dumb c*nt “.
Robin Smith and Merv Hughes
During 1989 Lords Test, Merv Hughes said to Robin Smith after he played and missed: ” You can’t f*cking bat”.
Simth replied, both with the bat and with words, he smashed Hughes to the boundry and said ” Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can’t f*cking bat and you can’t f*cking bowl .”
[…] Cricket Sledging - Australians feeling the heat now! in Trinidad. All the juicy details were not to be known until Steve Waugh came out with his autobiography […]