What impresses me the most is the fact that these sledges are made in relatively good taste. Real humour without any politics or racial abusing. You warned us about fruity language so I started preparing myself as I scrolled. I was pleasantly surprised...

Another one, probably in the book is with Merv Hughes cursing at Robin Smith that he couldnt f**ing bat, Smith hitting him for 4 and then saying, 'we make a good pair. I can't f***ing bat and you can't f***ing bowl'

Great! hav never seen or heard anything like this before. it was really great. i mean now one can realise how tough it is. the best sledge i loved was of Bill Woodfull and second best was of IAN Botham who responded to Rodney Marsh. i never thought players like even Mark Waugh can do this. he hadn't got that kind of reputation build around him!!!!!!

I love the sledging! I hope for the ashes sky turn the stump mikes up, it's post-wateshed so any frutiness shouldnt cause any problems. It's suprising to see the cricketers being so witty, although I'm not sure how many of the sledges are accurate, they may have been worked on as the years have passed, eg Steve Waugh to Gibbs at the World Cup Semi, he didn't quite say "you've just dropped the world cup"

All the same, good part of the game, only trouble is where do you draw the line? Test cricket is a test of mental toughness aswell as cricketing ability, so I'm all for it. However, it does get irritating when they start crying when they get some thrown back at them if you can't take it, don't give it.

Great and wonderful lines many of them and the responses equally whitty!!

Just like Sutherlands response to Carborne!!

Stupid Indian is not "That" racist.........Hhmmmm!! So maybe it's Ok being slightly racist, Only who's drawing the lines when it comes to a player thinking that Sutherlands remarks gives open season to "Stupid Indian" being acceptable?? Will CA charge or ban one of it's Test team for being caught making the same remark now it's Chief Exec has Ok'd it??

I think Sutherland has also appeared to take "stupid indian" out of context....i.e. seeming to ignore the rest of the alleged comment about not speaking english.

The "fans" may have been ejected for being drunk, but it's the thin end of the wedge.

Oz needs to clean up it's act fast or face the possibility of ICC action. If only I could believe that the ICC would stop tours to Oz to curb racism or have matches played behind closed doors as FIFA has done (even with the loss in revenue!!).

As to the sledging, long may it continue. It spices up the game and can also be counter-productive.

"If you can't take the heat, get out of the Kitchen"

That is unless you've just been called a "stupid Indian" by an ignorant drunk Aussie who hasn't bothered to read the facts about the person he's insulting, in which case heed advice about your bowling from Jenner and take more wickets than Warne, MacGill and McGrath combined in the series.

Good luck Monty

I've never been a big fan of personal sledging - it's ok when you're making wisecracks about someone's playing ability, but above that it just gets un-sportsmanlike. I never understood why the Anglo-Australian cricket bastion prides itself on how many expletives are exchanged on the field...it's the cricket we want to watch, not two blokes rambling on about whose wife is having whose kids.

Funny stuff All of em. Particularly the Rod Marsh to Botham sledge. Marsh must of thought he'd put botham off but a great retort.

It is reported Steve Waugh used to say to Nasser Hussain as they walked out to toss before every Ashes test, "Enjoy this test, Nasser. It's surely going to be your last!"

Another funny comment that I came across was in "Farewell to Cricket" by Don Bradman. England were set a huge target and Maurice Leyland batting with a youngster was being made to run hard for singles. Leyland said, "steady up lad, we can't get them all tonight, you know".
Now, that is the kind of humor we are missing in today's cricket when nothing short of a crude family or racist reference seems to satisfy the idiots masquerading as cricketers the world over.

i love the sledge with botham and marsh lmao

Whether there is any truth in this I'm not sure - but it's my favourite Ashes sledge anyway:

Warne bowling to Atherton in Autralia during an Ashes series (possibly Sydney). Atherton nicks one into Ian Healy's gloves but doesn't walk and is given not out.

Healy: "You f***ing cheat"
Atherton: "When in Rome Old Boy" said in his best Oxbridge voice!!

Another funny comment that I came across was in "Farewell to Cricket" by Don Bradman. England were set a huge target and Maurice Leyland batting with a youngster was being made to run hard for singles. Leyland said, "steady up lad, we can't get them all tonight, you know".
Now, that is the kind of humor we are missing in today's cricket when nothing short of a crude family or racist reference seems to satisfy the idiots masquerading as cricketers the world over.

A wonderful post and a swift reminder for all those calling for strict verbal discipline in cricket that cricket is a game soft on eyes and hard on ears:). Really enjoyed the post and the last two ones really knocked me all over.

The Sledges are Part of the game as per the Aussies.It is coming as the part of the aggressiveness and a result of heat moment of the game.With out sledging the matches which played by aussies are not good.There is a bit interesting and thrilling while the sledging happened in the field.But some times it hurts some players.So,Sledging with out hurtinr the players is interesting.Awaiting for Ashes-2006.

some of these sledging calls are glorious...ima try a few of these in my club games:P

And who said it wasn't the gentleman's game! with talk like that we should give each player a mic, it'd b great for family viewing plus it would teach sum of our youngsters a thing or 2 about streetslick!

How did Mark Waugh react? That must have hurt!

How good are the Ashes sledges compared to sledges from other series? Other sports?

Reading all this, it should be said that Ashes 2005 was played in very good spirit and perhaps, in a too friendly atmosphere.Hope Ashes 2006 brings in some hard-fought battles,both cricketing wise and verbally.Of course, the verbal battles should not cross limits.

Is this the best article ypu can make?Talk about Cricket.Sledging is not the main part. Stop attacking Australia

Ha Ha Ha Well done and I really doubt whether the cricketers of today can talk the talk.
And this really makes me wonder if such close scrutiny of the players on field has something to do with that?

Makes for fascinating reading. Much reviled, these exchanges convey the essence of competetive spirit between individuals in an essentially team game. A godd insight into individual opinions, too - some would never have featured anywhere else.

Whoever said cricket is a gentleman's game was lying through his.... you know what! I reckon the book extracts got into me too!! Tell u what, these guys were good with repartees but if a game has to be played then all the prejudices have to be kept outside the 22-yard strip. This is what the holy ICC " scoundrels" have realised belatedly and they are taking it out on the teams from the sub continent rather than their own WASPs.

In any case, the colourful language we sub continent wallahs have can be much more mirthful than these teasers, by a long shot!!

Jai Ho!!

Well, what can I say, quite interesting, though I don't believe sledging does any good. I mean check out Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, you can't harm these guys mentally, they'd probably bat till the cows come home. Good to read though, funny stuff, but don't favour it myself!
Cheers
Jai Hind!

This book is sure to be quiet an interesting read...! Well, i agree, theyesteryears cricketers were certainly more original while taking digs at each other..I loved the Lille-Gatting chat!!Aussies are better, hands down.

excellant work Tim

My favourite is when Warney was bowling to one of the Pakistani batsmen (maybe Inzy?)and Heals shouted to Boony. "We've got to get this bloke to leave his crease, Babs. Put a mars bar just short of a length."

I love em all, tho my favourite sledge isn't from the ashes. It was Glenn Mcgrath to Eddo Brandes

"Hey Eddo, how come you're so fat?"
Brandes responded:
"Cos everytime i sleep with your wife, she gives me a biscuit!" Classic

There was a time when, in the era of B&W TV, Ritchie Benaud advertised "Smoothex Shaving Creme". He appeared on the screen with a faceful of creme, made on stroke with a razor, and uttered just 5 words.
While facing a W.I. paceman at the SCG, a ball came so close to his off stump that, had it had creme on it, Benaud would have been bowled. A voice from "The Hill" came out with Benaud's TV one liner.
"Closest shave I ever had"
The game stopped while both teams recovered from laughter.

Sleding is also a favourite trade between Pakistani and Indian Cricketers, our witt might not be understoof by the English speaking audience or cricketers but I often find myself rolling on the floor listening to my home boys or some time indians. As long as its done in good faith and humour, its enjoyed but when it crosses line and trust me when u cross a line u know u r crossing the line.
great work though!

Here's one more. After being terrorized by Warnie, Daryl Cullinan goes to New Zealand. Vettori bowls a long hop which DC defends. Parore, the chirpy wk shouts, bowling warnie:)

when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamer Sohail said to Ian Botham on his way to pavilion "Why don't you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse."

I'm with Teshin Khan on this one. Some great lines and very witty repartee and it's all good, as long as you don't cross the line. And you do know when you do. And that one about Richie Benaud that Dave S. posted had me rolling in my staff room at school! I would have given much to have been there!

freddie truman after getting belted around the ground to a young substitute fielder who had just missed fielding a ball through his legs which went to boundary.at the end of the over the fielder apologised to truman."sorry mr truman,i should have kept my legs together".truman said"nay lad,thy mother should have"