Sledging saga in the 'Gentlemen's game'

New Delhi: Sledging and Cricket go together now a days. One seldom sees a series not marred by the sledging incidents. Latest is the Virat Kohli-Mitchell Johnson incident that happened in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014. Like any other series this too is turning out to be memorable not only for some very good performances but for some high voltage drama on the field.Australian players are known for using art of sledging to the best. However on this tour of India they are getting the taste of their own medicine."They don't like to take it back and we (Indians) always like to give it back. Opposition just cant bully us and if they get it back they are not able to digest it," says Virat Kohli.Now a day's cricket is incomplete without altercations between the players, verbal spats, obscene gestures and abusive comments.Speaking of Sledging and not taking the name of Merve Hughes would be unfaire. Merve is amongst those cricketers who had the expertise in sledging and can be called the 'King of Sledging'. Lets take a look at some of the most infamous sledging instances in the game of cricket:1. Merv Hughes and Sir Vivian Richards: In a match in West Indies, Merv decided to take on the legendary Sir Vivian Richards. Hughes didn't say a word to the West Indian but continued staring at him after deliveries.An irritated Richards snapped back saying, "This is my island, my culture. Don't you stare at me. In my culture we just bowl."Hughes didn't reply; his staring had worked, as Richards was soon sent back to the pavilion by Hughes.The victorious Hughes replied,” In my culture we just f**k off."2.Glenn McGrath & Ramnaresh Sarwan: The Australians were playing a test match against the West Indies.McGrath to Sarwan "What does Brian Lara's d**k taste like?".Sarwan : "Why don't you ask your wife?".As said earlier it feels painful where you get the taste of your own medicine, McGrath then lost the temper and said, "If you ever mention my wife again, I'll f****n rip your f****n throat out".3. Rod Marsh & Ian Botham: In an Ashes match Ian Botham arrived at the wicket to a bit of cheek from the Aussie keeper.Rod Marsh said, "So how's your wife and my kid's?". Botham replied "Wife's fine. Kid's are retarded".4. Kiran More and Javed Miandad: The incident dates back to World Cup 1992, clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan.Kiran More, the wicketkeeper was chirping too much from behind the stumps and kept appealing. Javed Miandad complained it to the umpires but More didn't slow down.All of a sudden, Miandad mimicked More after hitting the ball to mid off and started jumping on the ground like a frog, appealing for a dismissal.The 'frog jumping' instance made him lose his concentration and his wicket that eventually cost Pakistan the match.5. Merv Hughes & Javed Miandad:During a test between Pakistan and Australia in 1991 Miandad tried to sledge Merv: "Merv you are a big, fat bus conductor". Only a few deliveries later Merv dismissed Miandad, ran past him and shouted: "Tickets please!".6. Mark Waugh & Adam Parore:It's among the most brutal replies in sledging. Mark Waugh said, "I remember you from a couple of years ago. You were shit then and you're fucken useless now!". To which Parore replied: "Yeah that's me. And I remember you were dating that old, ugly s**t. I see you've married her now. You dumb c**t".7. Robin Smith & Merv Hughes:In the 1989 Ashes series Big Merv was giving Smith a few problems. After playing and missing a Merv delivery, Merv snapped: "You can't f*****g bat". Next ball Smith hit him for four runs and replied: "Hey Merv! We make a good pair. I can't f*****g bat and you can't f*****g bowl!".8. Ravi Shastri & Mike Whitney:It was India vs Australia and the hosts were trying to take the charge on the ground. Mike Whitney was on the field as a sub fielder while Shastri was batting.Shastri hits the ball to Whitney and takes a single. Whitney throws the ball in and says: "Stay in your crease or I'll break your f****n head". Shastri replies: "If you could bowl as well as you talk you wouldn't be the f****** # 12th man!".9. Malcolm Marshall & David Boon:Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon, who was having a bit of trouble against the fast bowler and had played and missed a few times. Marshall : "Now David, are you going to get out or am I going to have to come round the wicket and kill you?".10. Andre Nel and S. Sresanth:This could be one of the funniest sledging moments a cricket fan would encounter. The heat on the field was at its peak in Johannesburg as South African pacer Andre Nel bowling aggressively to S. Sreesanth said, "Show me the heart.... and answer to that from Sreesanth was huge 6 on the very next ball.After hitting the ball beyond boundaries Sreesanth started dancing, waving the bat in the air in front of Andre Nel."