Top 10 Greatest Sledging Incidents in Cricket History

Top 10 Greatest Sledging Incidents in Cricket History: Cricket is that glorious game which always enthrals the imaginations of millions of people in some way or the other. Be it the striking beauty of some beautifully crafted shots or the fast bowlers intimidating the batsmen with their zipping deliveries. But, in a similar way banters as they say is also a determinant factor on the 22 yards which has an imperatively influential effect on the outcome of the game. Cricket is a game full of passion with cut-throat competition and why it wouldn’t be as it’s a matter of utmost pride to represent your country on a global level. But, everything has a limit which when crossed can cause some erratic reactions. While sometimes the altercation gives the spectators and audiences, some pills of happiness and laughter while sometimes it might disgrace the very sport if the chords are overly stretched. So let’s have a look at the Top 10 Greatest Sledging Incidents in Cricket History: 1. Virender Sehwag (India) vs Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan): (Video Source: IndiaTV) Pakistani speedster, Shoaib Akhtar was bowling bouncers after bouncers at Sehwag, while asking Sehwag “Hook maar ke dikha, pull mar ke dikha” (play the hook shot, try the pull). Akhtar kept on doing the same thing again and again which infuriated Viru and he enquired Akhtar ” Yeh bowling kar raha hai ya bheekh maang raha hai? [Is he bowling or begging?]”. Even the Pakistani players burst into laughter. But, the Rawalpindi express continue his merry way and this time around Sehwag had gone for the final kill. “Woh tera baap khada hai non-striker end pe, usko bol woh maarke dikhayega” (Your father is standing at non-striker end, ask him he will play hook shot). In the next over, Akhtar bowled the bouncer again, and this time Sachin was on the strike, and he slaughtered the ball across the boundary for a six. Then Sehwag in a giggling manner reminded Akhtar “Beta beta hota hai, baap baap hota hai” (Father is a father, and son’s a son) 2. Glenn McGrath (Australia) vs Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe): Glenn McGrath (Australia) vs Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe) (Source) Eddo Brandes, the no.11 batsman and pace spearhead of the Zimbabwean side was battling a ferocious bowling spell of Glenn McGrath. McGrath was almost unplayable. Suddenly, he went up to Brandes and questioned: “Why are you so fat?”. Brandes in his jerky way replied with a hoax , “Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit.” After which even his teammates couldn’t help and burst into laughter. 3. Vivian Richards (West Indies) and Merv Hughes(Australia): Vivian Richards (West Indies) and Merv Hughes(Australia) (Source) It was a test match played at Jamaica with Vivian Richards dominating the Australians in his classic style. But that didn’t go too well with a man of burly moustache and ego as he tried to intimidate Richards with his stupefying glares. In a bullish manner, Richards said: “Don’t you be staring at me, man. This is my island, my culture. And in my culture we just bowl”. Hughes replied with equivocally counter-attacking words: “In my culture we just say f**k off”. 4. Sachin Tendulkar (India) v/s Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) : (Source) The ODI match between India and Pakistan was cancelled and in place of which an exhibition match was held. The Pakistani crowd was stimulating the master by mocking “Dudh Pita Bhachcha ..ghar jaake dhoodh pee”, (hey kid, go home and drink milk). When, Sachin came to the crease he hit Mushtaq Ahmed, a rookie leg-spinner for a couple of towering sixes which ignited the fire in one of the greatest leg-spinners of that time- Abdul Qadir. Qadir provoked Sachin by challenging him: “Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar dikhao (Why are you hitting kids? Try and hit a six of my bowling). Then the 16-year-old Sachin, in a barbarous way smoked Qadir for four sixes in the over and enjoyed the final laughter. 5. Adam Parore (New Zealand) and Mark Waugh (Australia): Adam Parore (New Zealand) and Mark Waugh (Australia) (Source) Mark Waugh was standing at the second slip. Adam Parore played and missed the first ball. Waugh in a spurious way said – “Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were shit then, you’re fu****g useless now”. But, then Parore with all in a flash gave an fitting reply to Waugh: “Yeah, that’s me and when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly s***t and now I hear you’ve married her. You Dumb”. 6. Virender Sehwag (India) vs Michael Clarke (Australia): Virender Sehwag (India) vs Michael Clarke (Australia) In 2004, then a youngster Michael Clarke dared to challenge Sachin in a disrespectful way. “You are too old, forget it. You need to go,” chirped Clarke. Sehwag didn’t liked the gesture of Clarke and went up to him and enquired,” What’s your age?” Clarke animatedly replied saying, “23, mate!” Sehwag then responded, “Do you know he [Tendulkar] has more hundreds in Tests and in ODIs than your age? Try someone your age, mate!” But, Clarke continued his chirping tactics and insisted, “Hey you, oldie! You #@$#@$ blah blah!” But this time, Sehwag in a witty and quirky manner asked Clarke, “Your friends call you ‘pup’, right?” Clarke replied, “Yeah, mate.” Then he shut him up finally by mocking a masterpiece “Which breed?” After which even Sachin Tendulkar can’t help laughing while Clarke learnt his lesson. 7. Vivian Richards (West Indies) v/s Greg Thomas (England): Vivian Richards (West Indies) v/s Greg Thomas (England) (Source) There were a handful of freak bowlers who could ever dare to sledge the wrath of the most devastating batsmen, Vivian Richards. The persona and swashbuckling repertoire of stokes which this great West Indian batsmen possessed was enough to bluster the vengeance in the opponents mind. It was a rare occasion when a batsmen of his caliber was looking vulnerable on the crease. It was in a county match when a rookie Englishmen Thomas said: “It’s red, it’s round and it weighs 5 ounces. Now fucken hit it!”. What happened next was a sheer evidence of his Richard’s boastful nature as he shattered the next ball out of the ground and gave an epic reply: “You know what it looks like now go and get it.” 8. Herschelle Gibbs (south Africa) vs Steve Waugh (Australia): (Source) During the 1999 World Cup, Australia needed to beat South Africa to keep their tournament hopes alive. Their skipper Steve Waugh was on 56* and leading Aus to victory when he gifted Gibbs a simple catch. Gibbs went to celebrate the catch but instead dropped it. Gibbs was always known for his flexibility and agility but the pressure of the catch and his flamboyance got better of his mindfulness. Resilient Waugh said to Gibbs: “You’ve just dropped the World Cup”. He was right too, Aussie went on to win the game and kept their hopes alive and it was in the semi-final game when the match between the same nations got tied and on the basis of superior ranking, Australia not only qualified for the finals but eventually went on to triumph in the penultimate match and thereby to the World Cup glory. If Gibbs had held on to the catch ,then the Proteas might have eliminated Australians then and there only. 9. Merv Hughes (Australia) vs Robin Smith (England): Merv Hughes (Australia) vs Robin Smith (England) (Source) In the 1989 Ashes series, the Big Merv Hughes who was always a crowd puller with his humorous and witty utterances had made the life of Smith difficult on the crease with his lethal bowling. After playing and missing a Merv’s delivery, the Big Merv snapped in anger: “You can’t fu****g bat”. Next ball Smith replied in best way a batter can on the cricket field and that is to let the bat do the talking. He smashed Hughes to the fence for four runs and in a flash counter attacked: “Hey Merv! We make a good pair. I can’t fucking bat and you can’t fu****g bowl!” 10. Bill Woodful (Australia) vs Douglas Jardine (England): This one will take you back in the memory lanes to the 1932-33 bodyline ashes series which was one of the most fierce battles ever on the field of cricket where the 22 yards became paradise for a war of legacy and traditions. The Australians viewed the English skipper Douglas Jardine as an antagonist due to his tactics. So, when one of them called him a “bast*rd” from the slips, he was quick to complain to his Australian counterpart Bill Woodfull. The Aussie skipper turned out to be the evil of the evils and asked his team, “Which of you bast*rd called this bast*rd a bast*rd?” Such was the intense battle between the two epic sides.