10 Infamous sledging incidents that made headlines in cricket
While competing on the field, cricketers give their best to obtain the desired results for their teams. Sometimes, players do not hesitate to instigate their opponents, resorting to sledging and banters. In many instances, this tactic has worked while there are several incidents to recount when it also backfired and went against players.
In the 1996 World Cup quarter-final between India and Pakistan, when Aamir Sohail hit Venkatesh Prasad for a four in Pakistan’s 15th over, the former got overconfident. Following the delivery, Sohail pointed his bat towards Prasad and sledged him. However, the Pakistan stalwart’s overconfidence went against him and the next ball, Prasad cleaned him up and had the last laugh.
Discussing sledging and banters more, here are the 10 sledging incidents that grabbed a lot of eyeballs
10. Mohammad Kaif vs Mohammad Yousuf, 2005
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has always produced mouth-watering contests for avid cricket supporters. During the 2005 Pakistan tour of India, both teams faced each other in the second Test at the iconic Eden Gardens of Kolkata. In the second innings, Pakistan were following the target of 394.
The match was at an exciting stage for Indian cricket team fans as the visitors lost four wickets at a score of 115. After the fall of four batters, Yousuf was striving to stabilise Pakistan’s innings with his defence. Moving ahead slowly, he had amassed 22 off 87 when Mohammad Kaif, who was fielding at the short-leg area, took a dig at Yousuf for not hitting a single four.
“Ek bhi chauka nahi mara 87 ball khel li (He hasn’t scored any four after 87 deliveries)”, said Kaif. The ace fielder’s plan worked in India’s favour as Yousuf lost his wicket to Anil Kumble a couple of balls later. Following his wicket, Pakistan completely collapsed and handed India a 195-run win.
9. Glenn McGrath vs Ramnaresh Sarwan, 2003
Glenn McGrath was the best pacer in international cricket during the 1990s and 2000s. Riding on his sensational bowling efforts, Australia pulled off a great many matches from 1999 to 2007. McGrath, who was a fierce competitor on the field while serving the Aussie side, never shied away from getting involved in fierce verbal conversations with batters.
Back in 2003, the former Australia speedster’s habit of inciting batters backfired. During Australia’s tour of the West Indies, McGrath resorted to sledging to unsettle Sarwan in the final test in Antigua. In the second innings, the Windies had lost four wickets at a score of 237 and Sarwan was striving to bring his team back into the game.
Amidst this tense situation, McGrath went to Sarwan and asked him “What does Brian Lara’s di*k taste like?” The Windies stalwart gave it back to the Aussie saying, “I don’t know, ask your wife.” Sarwan’s reply made the matter worse as McGrath’s wife was suffering from cancer during that period. Distraught McGrath failed to hold himself and went to the Caribbean player and said, “If you f**king mention my wife again, I will f**king rip your f**king throat out.
8. Tim Paine vs Rishabh Pant, 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
In recent years, a new rivalry has been born international cricket and that’s between India and Australia. After the year 2000, India have played quality cricket and have consistently posed a challenge to the Aussies who are known for playing an aggressive brand of cricket. The contest between both sides is renowned for ferocious competition, cricketing icons, and banters.
In 2019, India registered their maiden Test series victory on Australian soil, beating the hosts by 2-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19. During the intriguing Test series, a lot of banter happened between both sides, however, one that became the highlight was Tim Paine’s conversation with India’s wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant during the Boxing Day Test.
After a couple of Tests, the series was level at 1-1 and Pant was out in the middle in the crucial game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Paine, who was the Australia skipper then, sledged the India player saying, “Tell you what big MS is back in the one-day squad. Should get this bloke down to Hurricanes. They need a batter. Fancy that extend your Aussie holiday, beautiful town Hobart too... get him a waterfront apartment. Have him over for dinner. Do you babysit? I can take my wife to the movies while you watch the kids."
Giving it back to Paine, Pant replied, "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." India won this game by 137 runs and this was India’s first Test victory at the MCG after 37 years.
7. Glenn McGrath vs Eddo Brandes, 1996 Singer Cup
As discussed above, former Australia speedster Glenn McGrath was not only famous for his disciplined pace bowling during his playing career but also for sledging his opponents. Back in 1996, when Australia toured Sri Lanka to participate in the Singer World Series, McGrath became a victim of his sledging.
In the first game of the tournament between Australia and Zimbabwe, the former emerged victorious by a huge margin of 125 runs. However, along with the Aussies’ triumph, one more incident that grabbed the attention was the fierce banter between McGrath and Eddo Brandes.
After the fall of nine wickets, Zimbabwe were on the brink of a massive loss and Eddo Brandes, the last man went into the middle at a score of 120. Noting that the defeat was on the cards, Brandes flexed his muscles and scored some boundaries. Witnessing Brandes clearing the boundary, McGrath decided to sledge the Zimbabwe player, asking him, “Why are you so fat?” Replying to the Aussie, the Zimbabwe pacer said, “Because every time I make love to your wife she gives me a biscuit.” McGrath got stunned by Brandes’ reply but didn’t get affected as he was a bachelor then. McGrath got hitched to his first wife Jane in 1999. This reply however still remains one of the biggest comebacks in cricket history.
6. Gautam Gambhir vs Ricky Ponting, 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Back in 2008, after the Monkeygate scandal, the India-Australia rivalry became one of the favourite events to watch for cricket supporters. In September 2008, when Australia toured India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008-09, Indian fans had a great time as they witnessed their team winning a Test series against the mighty Aussies after seven years.
During the competition, a lot of dramas happened and the centre of attraction was the India opener Gautam Gambhir. Playing the third Test in Delhi, the southpaw got involved in a heated exchange with Shane Watson and got banned for the fourth Test in Nagpur. Earlier, Gambhir had a verbal clash with the Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting in the series.
Playing the inaugural Test, Ponting tried to unsettle Gambhir with banters and sledging. However, Gambhir, who was known for giving it back to the opponents, didn’t stay quiet and gave a strong reply to the Aussie legend. While having a conversation at the Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’, in 2020, the former India player said, “He was at silly point, and he said ‘you haven’t set the world on fire’. I said ‘Neither have you in India. To be honest, you have been a bunny’.
5. Virat Kohli vs Steven Smith, 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Virat Kohli and Steven Smith share a cordial relationship with each other both on and off-field nowadays. However, this wasn’t the case a few years back. Both batting maestros were known for being competitors against each other not just with their bats but also with banters and sledging.
In the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, both players got involved in several on-field spats. However, one that got the attention of cricket fans happened in the opening Test in Adelaide. On Day four, when Smith was out in the middle, Rohit Sharma bowled an over and on one of the deliveries, the India stalwart appealed to the umpire for an LBW.
The umpire denied Rohit’s request but Smith displayed his unhappiness on the appeal with a gesture which invited an angry reaction from Sharma. Witnessing the incident, Kohli also jumped into the matter and asked Smith saying, “stay in your limits”.
4. Michael Clarke vs Virender Sehwag, 2004-05 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Michael Clarke and Virender Sehwag are counted among the greatest batters that rocked international cricket with their batting exploits. In 2004, Australia registered an incredible Test series triumph on Indian soil after a long gap of 35 years. Clarke played a vital role in his team’s scintillating triumph with his sensational batting performance.
Those days, the Australian cricket team was known for playing mind games during matches. Sledging and banters used to be an integral part of Australia’s tactic to unnerve the opponents. During the massive series played between both sides in 2004, Clarke strived to trouble Sachin Tendulkar with banters.
He hurled verbal volleys at the Master Blaster, saying, “You are too old, forget it. You need to go.” Sachin didn’t react to Clarke’s comments but Sehwag who was present in the middle along with Tendulkar, asked Clarke “What’s your age?” Clarke replied, “23, mate!” Sehwag went ahead and said, “Do you know he [Tendulkar] has more hundreds in Tests and in ODIs than your age? Try someone your age, mate!”
However, Clarke refused to give up and continued his verbal attack on Tendulkar. This time, Sehwag silenced the Aussie, asking, “Your friends call you ‘pup’, right?” Clarke replied, “Yeah, mate.” Then he shut him up finally by mocking a masterpiece “Which breed?” Sehwag’s question to Clarke made Tendulkar burst into laughter. Sehwag often cites this sledging incident whenever he talks about his onfield altercations.
3. James Anderson vs Mitchell Johnson, Ashes 2010-11
James Anderson, England’s most successful Test bowler, hasn’t got involved in verbal altercations a lot of times but whenever he did, it made headlines. However, unlike Anderson, Mitchell Johnson was known for hurling verbal volleys at his opponents. During his career, the veteran Aussie pacer initiated several fights that grabbed a lot of eyeballs.
England clinched a Test series victory on Australian soil after 24 years in 2011. In the English team’s success, Anderson played an instrumental role with the ball, bagging 24 wickets in five matches. In the third Test of the series in Perth, Johnson strived to irk Anderson. On Day 1, Australia were six down with Johnson and Ryan Harris present at the crease.
At the non-striker end, Johnson tried to instigate Anderson saying, "Why are you chirping now, mate, not getting wickets?”. Johnson got a mouth-shutting reply from the England pacer as he cleaned up Harris on the next ball. Anderson also told Johnson to keep quiet with the quiet sign on his lips.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin vs Tim Paine, 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has given a lot of memorable moments to avid cricket supporters. When both teams compete with each other, the absence of banter is something impossible. Back in the 2000s, the Aussies used to get success by using sledging as a weapon against their opponents.
However, things have changed in recent years and a classical example of it is Australia’s loss at the hands of India in the Gabba Test of 2021. During the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21, India were five down in the second innings while chasing a massive total of 407 runs.
Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin were settled at the crease and were taking India towards a draw. Amidst these scenes, the Aussie captain Tim Paine poked Ashwin, saying, "I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash, I'll tell you what, woohoo." The India stalwart didn’t lose his calm and responded to Paine saying, “Just like we wanna get you to India. That will be your last series.”
Paine’s overconfidence to scare Ashwin with the Gabba comment went against the Australian team as India became the first team to breach the Aussies’ Gabba fortress after 33 years. The Indian team won the match with three wickets in hand and it was India’s maiden victory in Brisbane’s iconic ground.
1. Gautam Gambhir vs Shahid Afridi, 2007
The India-Pakistan rivalry is arguably the biggest rivalry in this sport. Whenever both neighbours meet, cricket fans witness some great matches. Several veterans who played in the India-Pakistan games revealed what kind of pressure they used to handle while serving their teams.
Back in November 2007, when Pakistan toured India for five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Tests, both sides went through immense pressure. In the five–match ODI series both India and Pakistan had won a game apiece and it was the third ODI in Kanpur when the two players lost their cool and got engaged in a verbal fight.
On the third delivery of the 20th over of the game, Gambhir and Afridi exchanged words with each other. The matter got worse when both players collided with each other on the next delivery. Following the collision, both players used cuss words against each other. The match eventually concluded with India winning the game by 46 runs. Following the conclusion both players were fined their match fees for breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct. This incident is still touted as one of the most infamous sledging incidents from cricket history.
from Cricket Appeal: The Best and Funny Appeals in Cricket History – HOWZAT!!! | CricTracker.com https://ift.tt/Xw4uTeH
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