Cricket known as the Gentleman’s game, turns into a battle-field when the two teams meet on the ground. The game of cricket is a mental one and players from both teams s/ledge at their opponents to play mind games to break the focus and concentration of the batsman or bowler.

With Time, players no more take the silent approach to a sledge and gives witting replies back which sometimes get captured in the stump mike which makes it great television.

This article will discuss on the best sledging moments, highlighting memorable sledging Incidents, and Cricketers who mastered the Art.

Presented by: Raghunath Nair

Date: 07/09/2023

Introduction

what is sledging in cricket: In the sport of cricket, sledging is the practice of intimidating an opposing player through verbal intimidation. The intention is to break the opponent’s concentration, thereby causing them to underperform or be more prone to make mistakes.

Some of the best cricket sledges are mostly harmless and taken in good spirits by both sides but some do cross the line. Australians were the undisputed leaders in sledging for a long time, but in the modern era, they do get the taste of their own medicine from the modern cricketers from all across the world.

Presenting some of the best sledging moments in cricket

Steve Waugh to Jamie Siddons

In a Sheffield Shield match, Steve Waugh took his time getting ready to face the first ball. Taking guard, scratching out his mark, looking at the field settings.

This annoyed Jamie Siddons and said: “For f**’s sake, mate, it’s not a f**ing test match!”

To which Waugh replied: “Of course it’s not… You’re here”.

Daryll Cullinan to Shane Warne

After the infamous ball of the century, Daryll Cullinan was considered Warne’s Bunny so when the South African came into bat, Aussie legend Shane Warne to humiliate Daryll said  “I’ve been waiting four years for this”.

To that Cullinan replied, “Looks like you spent it eating.”

Viv Richards to Greg Thomas

In a county match in England, Thomas beat Viv Richards on multiple occasion and was getting a few past the bat. Thomas said: “It’s red, it’s round. Now f***ing hit it!”

This obviously got Richards fired up, who then proceeded to hit the next ball out of the ground and said to Thomas, “You know what it looks like, now go and get it.”

Ravi Shastri to Mike Whitney

During the Second Test in Melbourne 1991/92 vs India, Ravi Shastri was batting when the 12th man for Australia Mike Whitney was called on as a substitute fielder.

Shastri attempted to take a quick single to Whitney who said, “If you leave your crease, I will break your f***ing head.”

Without flinching, Shastri replied, “Hey! If you could bat or bowl as well as you could talk, you wouldn’t be f***ing 12^th man!”

Fred Trueman to Raman Subba Row

Fred Trueman was bowling and got an edge from the batsman which went between Row’s legs, who was fielding at slip. At the end of the over, Row ran over to Trueman and says: “Sorry Fred, I should’ve kept my legs closed”.

Trueman: “So should your mother.”

Merv Hughes to Javed Miandad

During the 1991 Test between Pakistan and Australia, Javed Miandad tried to sledge Merv Hughes: “Merv you are a big, fat bus conductor”.

Only a few balls later Merv dismissed Miandad, ran past him and shouted: “Tickets please!”.

Steve Waugh to Herschelle Gibbs

In the ODI World Cup, 1999, it was a must win game for Australia and South Africa. A well-set Steve Waugh was leading the Aussies to victory when he lobbed a catch to Herschelle Gibbs who went to celebrate the catch but instead dropped it, leaving Waugh to remark: “You’ve just dropped the World Cup”.

The Sledge went on to become true with Australia winning the match and eventually winning the World Cup later on the tournament. The Loss also meant that South Africa was knocked out of the tournament.

Viv Richards to Sunil Gavaskar

Regular Opener Sunil Gavaskar to strengthen the middle order decided to change his batting position against the formidable West Indies bowling lineup. Unfortunately, the move failed and both makeshift openers were dismissed for a duck and Sunil walked out to take guard.

Viv Richards, standing at mid-off cheekishly sledged him saying “It doesn’t matter when you come out to bat Sunny, the score is always zero!”

Jimmy Ormond to Mark Wagh

Jimmy Or  mond was on his Test debut in the 2001 Ashes. Mark Waugh sledged him saying “Mate what are you doing batting? There’s no way you are good enough to represent England?”

Ormond subtly replied, “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best cricketer in my family!”

Merv Hughes to Viv Richards

During Australia’s tour to West Indies, Merv Hughes always had a thing or two to say to his opponents and following each delivery, Hughes would lock his gaze onto the formidable West Indian captain, Viv Richards. This gesture angered Viv Richards who confronted Hughes and said, “Don’t you be staring at me, man. This is my island, my culture. And in my culture, we bowl.”

Hughes waited for the right time to respond and when the opportunity arose, he retorted, “In my culture we just say fuck-off.”

Merv Hughes to Graham Gooch

During one of the Ash  es Innings, England’s Prolific Batsman Graham Gooch was missing the ball .

Merv Hughes sledged Graham Gooch, “Would you like me to bowl a piano and see if you can play that”

This funny sledge became one of the all-time classics

 Fred Trueman to the Aussies

England  player Fred Trueman was fielding at the boundary near the gate from the pavilion.

When a new batsman walked into the ground and turned around to shut the pavilion gate, Fred Trueman chirped “Don’t bother son, you won’t be out there long enough.”

Phil Tufnell to the Aussie Umpires

When all his appeals were getting turned down by the Aussie Umpires the short tempered Phil Tufnell was burning from inside. But when an obvious call was turned down, Phil Tufnell let go his frustration on the umpires

‘What, are you blind?’

‘I beg your pardon!’

‘Are you deaf as well?’

Ian Healy to Arjuna Ranatunga

Another Infamous Aussie sledging behind the stump from Ian Healy who sledged on the Sri lankan Captain for his heavy form

When Arjuna was on strike, Healy told  Shane Warne, ‘Put a Mars bar on a good length, that should do it’

Bill Woodfull to Douglas Jardine

This was during the infamous Bodyline series when tension between the two countries were at its highest. When the England captain Douglas Jardine came to meet the Aussie captain in the Australian dressing room over an unpleasant swear by an aussie player

Australian captain Bill Woodfull’s responded by asking his teammates –

‘Now, which of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?’

Eddo Brandes to McGrath

Glenn McGrath, the Australian pacer, casually asked the 10 number batsman Eddo Brandes, “Why are you so fat?”

Eddo Brandes, the Zimbabwean bowler, didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly replied, “Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit.”

Robin Smith to Merv Hughes

Wh  en Robin Smith was missing to connect Merv’s Deliveries, Hughes said to Smith .

“You Can’t Bat”

Robin Smith did not respond till he hit Merv for a boundary and then replied

“We make a great pair, I can’t bat, you can’t bowl”

Ian Healy to Nasser Hussain

Another Classic from Healy was his jibe on Hussain’s nose. When Ricky Ponting was told to field right under Nasser Hussain’s nose suggesting to be in a close-in position.

Ian Healy remarked “That could be anywhere under a 3-mile radius”

Craig Mc Dermott and Phil Tufnell

When P  hil Tufnell celebrated animatedly after taking the tailender Craig MC Dermott’s wicket , the Aussie fast bowler turned around and told the left arm spinner

‘You’ve got to bat on this in a minute Tuffers: Hospital food suit you?’

Ian Botham and Rodney Marsh

One of the classics in the England – Australia sledging comes this gem from Ian Botham.

When Ian Botham took strike, the chirpy Rodney Marsh said to Ian Botham:

‘So how’s your wife and my kids?’

To which, Botham replied:

‘The wife’s fine but the kids are retarded’

Malcolm Marshall & David Boon

After struggling to put bat on ball, David boon was having a charmed life at the crease. Malcolm Marshall was beating David Boon with regularity but the Aussie was lucky to be surviving

Marshall sledged Boon : “Now David, are you going to get out or am I going to have to come round the wicket and kill you?”.

Mark Waugh & Adam Parore

Aussies at it again but this reply takes the cake.

Mark Waugh Sledges Adam Parore – “I remember you from a couple of years ago. You were shit then and you’re fucken useless now!”.

Parore replied: “Yeah that’s me. And I remember you were dating that old, ugly slut. I see you’ve married her now. You dumb cunt”.

Glenn McGrath & Ramnaresh Sarwan

During the Test Series, Glen McGrath did not expect such a strong reply from the West Indian

When Ramnaresh Sarwan came into bat, Mc Grath took the first Jibe by asking

“What does Brian Lara’s dick taste like?”. 

Sarwan did not mix words and replied : “Why don’t you ask your wife?”

Conclusion

There are no rules for sledging in cricket  , it is allowed as long it does not cross the line. Hope friendly banters continues which do spice up the game and this verbal To and Fro help in the breaking the monotony in the game.