They say cricket is a gentlemen’s game but Sledging has been part and parcel of cricket since a very long time, exchange of words between players have often determined the result of the match. at times the altercations have been in good faith whereas some have taken an ugly turn.
We’ve seen that over the years sledging has made cricket more interesting for the fans. moreover, it brings out the witty sense of humour of the players. Also in modern times, countries like Australia and England have successfully used sledging as a tactic to distract the focus of the opponent.
Former Australian player Merv Hughes was regarded as the ‘Master Sledger’. Sometimes the sledges work in favour of the team but they also backfire at times.
Let’s take a look at some of the memorable sledging moments in the history of cricket:
1) Tim Paine and Rishabh Pant
During 2018 India’s tour of Australia, a banter was started by Aussie captain Tim Paine when Pant came out to bat
“Tell you what big MS is back in the one-day squad. Should get this bloke down to Hurricanes, They need a batter”
“Do you babysit? I can take my wife to the movies while you watch the kids” said Paine.
Later, Pant welcomed Paine to the crease with some banter of his own calling him a ‘temporary captain’. The Indian wicket-keeper batsman began the banter by saying,
“We have got a special guest here. Have you heard the word temporary captain ever? You [Jadeja] don’t need anything to get him out. Come on lads”
“He loves to talk, that’s the only thing he can do. Only talking talking”.
2) Viv Richards and Merv Hughes
When Australia toured West Indies in the year 1991 for a five-match test series, the big moustache man Merv Hughes had a different approach to the game. The Victoria born gave Viv Richards after every delivery was bowled, which eventually angered the West Indies skipper.
After which the legendary West Indies batsman went up to him and said, “Don’t you be staring at me, man. This is my island, my culture. And in my culture, we bowl”.
Hughes waiting to reply back to the angered West Indies skipper replied saying, “In my culture, we just say f*** off.”
3) Sachin Tendulkar and Abdul Qadir
In 1989, Sachin Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan, though the little master didn’t have a memorable debut. He got to show his prowess in a 20-over exhibition game played after the official game.
India was struggling to chase 157 against Pakistan in the 20-over game when Tendulkar took the charge by hitting two sixes in Mushtaq Ahmed’s over.
After seeing this the leg spinner Abdul Qadir’ went up to Sachin and said, “Why are you hitting kids, try and hit me”.
The master blaster replied by smashing four sixes in Abdul Qadir’s over.
4) Mark Waugh and James Ormand
During a Test match between Australia and England in 2001, Mark Waugh sledged Ormand by saying, “Mate, what are you doing out here? There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”
To this Ormond replied, “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my own family”, a reference to Waugh’s brother Steve Waugh, who was the captain of the Australian team.
5) Ricky Ponting and Shaun Pollock
We have often seen a strong banter between the fast bowlers and batsmen since pace bowlers believed in distracting the batsmen with some exchange of words. This is what Shaun Pollock tried to do against Ricky Ponting during a game between Australia and South Africa.
After having beaten Ponting’s bat quite a few times, the South African went up to Ponting and said, “It’s red round and weighs about five ounces.”
In reply, Ponting hit the next ball for a six said, “You know what it looks like, now go find it”.
6) Steve Waugh and Parthiv Patel
Steve Waugh is one of the greatest ever players to play cricket, had faced a banter from young Parthiv Patel during 2004 India-Australia series. In the fourth test, Australia had to chase an improbable target of 443 runs in 90 overs when Parthiv made a comment towards Waugh.
“Let’s see if you can play one of those famous slog-sweeps, and miss one,” Parthiv said.
Waugh countered by saying, “Show a bit of respect, You were in nappies when I played my first Test match.”
7) Merv Hughes vs Javed Miandad
In 1991, when Australia faced Pakistan in a Test series, Javed Miandad tried to sledge Merv Hughes.
Miandad, in an attempt to distract Merv, said to him, “Merv you are a big, fat bus conductor”.
Just a few balls later, Hughes dismissed Miandad. After doing so, the Aussie cricketer ran past him and shouted, “Tickets please.”
8) Rod Marsh and Ian Botham
The Ashes isn’t just a competition between bat and ball, its the ultimate battle between the two nations for the prestigious trophy. such that players enter into a war of words way before the start of the series.
During one of the Ashes Test, Rodney Marsh once went up to Ian Botham to ask him something uncompelling,
“So how’s your wife and my kids?”, asked Marsh
The reply from Botham stunned Marsh, “The wife’s fine. The kids are retarded!”
9) Andrew Flintoff and Yuvraj Singh
It’s hard to forget this one, we often talk about Broad who conceded six sixes to Yuvraj Singh during the Inaugural World T20 but do you know the man responsible for igniting Yuvraj?
The exchange between Yuvraj and Flintoff after Yuvraj smashed Flintoff for two boundaries in his over was as follows:
Flintoff: “Those were f***ing ridiculous shots.”
Yuvraj: “F*** you”
Flintoff: “Excuse me?”
Yuvraj: “You heard what I said”
Flintoff: “I will cut your throat off”
Yuvraj: “You see this bat in my hand? Do you know where I’m gonna hit you with this bat?”
The exchange of words charged Yuvraj Singh which resulted in him smashing six sixes in the next over. The act of hitting six sixes off Stuart Broad will forever remain in the hearts of the cricket lovers.
10) Virender Sehwag and Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke was standing in the slips during a test match between India and Australia when Sachin walked out to bat, the Aussie went up to Sachin Tendulkar and said,
“You are too old, forget it. You need to go”
The master blaster remained silent after that jibe from Clarke but this struck Sehwag to give it back to Clarke. The former India opener, who is known for his ferocious hitting replied to the Aussie cricketer,
“What’s your age?” Clarke animatedly replied, saying, “23, mate!”
Sehwag further responded, “Do you know he [Tendulkar] has more hundreds in Tests and in ODIs than your age? Try someone your age, mate!”
On the other hand, Clarke wasn’t going to stop so he went on to taunt Tendulkar furthermore by calling him an ‘oldie’. This agitated Sehwag and shut the Aussie cricketer by asking,
“Your friends call you ‘pup’, right?” Clarke replied, “Yeah, mate.” Sehwag gave the final reply by asking, “Which breed?”
The reply shut Clarke resulting into Sehwag and Tendulkar bursting into laughter.