Ashes: We will continue the verbals against the English says Peter Handscomb

Australian bowlers dismantled the English batsmen in the Ashes opener at the Gabba during their 10-wicket rout of the visitors. Earlier It was Australia skipper Steve Smith played a brilliant century during the Australia’s innings giving the side a slender lead.

Peter Handscomb who could only manage 14 runs during his innings said that Australians will not shy away from going the sledging way. English bowler James Anderson had thrown the ball on the body of Australia opener Cameron Bancroft.

Then the headbutt controversy came in the news. It was Cameron Bancroft who said that during one of the practice games, England batsman Jonny Bairstow head-butted the opener, Bancroft. The news became a massive news and the whole cricketing fraternity was critical of the incident. Jonny Bairstow too confirmed the news but both said that they have moved on from it. While Bancroft found the incident “Weird”, Bairstow said that the incident was blown out of proportion.

Both the teams now will face each other for the second Test at Adelaide Oval which is going to be the first ever day-night Ashes test. Talking ahead of the game, Handscomb said that they have no intention of stopping the verbal attacks towards the English batters in the game starting from Sunday.

“There are moments you pick and choose and obviously the right words. There’s a line and we’ve just got to make sure we don’t cross it,” said Handscomb.

Speaking to the reporters, he said, “It’s something that’s part of the game, it always has been, it always will be. If there’s a moment that we can exploit someone’s mental capabilities well then yeah, we’re going to go about it.”

Speaking about Jonny Bairstow, Handscomb said that they had great repo between them when they played together for Yorkshire in the English county. “When I played with him at Yorkshire we had a great time together. I really like Jonny, we got along really well but it’s a different ball game now,” said Peter Handscomb. “I’m not trying to make him [Bairstow] feel good out there. That’s not my job.”

I enjoy the sledging: Anderson

English bowlers couldn’t take a single wicket as the Aussie openers Bancroft and Warner chased down the target on the fifth day. Anderson, who returned with 2 wickets in the game said that the Australians started being vocal on the 4th day when they were in better position in the game. “Australians were fairly quiet for the first few days when we were doing well. It was only on the fourth day when they became more vocal,” said veteran pacer.

“They waited until they were ahead in the game to do it. If anything it will galvanize us as a group. If we need any more incentive to get back in the series, it will give us that.” He concluded that sledging is something which he enjoys and It actually helps him in the game.