Gamesmanship

I'm sure you've heard enough about sledging, particularly after the recent "racism" row Down Under, involving our very own Bhajji and "Roy" Symonds. Here are a few I thought were (a) interesting reads, (b) not technically "sledging" and (c) not heard as often as others. Do add on if you have any others that fulfil these three criteria.

Pre-script: I don't have anything to prove the authenticity of these incidents, and am willing to credit anyone whose copyrights I may have inadvertently infringed upon.

1. Malcolm Marshall was bowling to David Boon who had played and missed a couple of times. Marshall: "Now David, Are you going to get out now or am I going to have to bowl around the wicket and kill you?"

2. While commentating during a match in which Pakistan was faring badly in all departments of the game, Bill Lawry, offering a solution said "I think Pakistan's problem is they've got to relax", to which Benaud replies nonchalantly, "I don't agree. I think Pakistan have got to learn how to bat, bowl and field. It's a simple game."

3. Mervyn Hughes to Gooch after playing and missing at a number of consecutive deliveries: I'll get you a piano instead to see if you can play that.

4. Ian Healy trying to convince Ranatunga to leave his crease - Put a Mars bar on a good length, that should do it!

5. A well-known (but unmentioned) West Indian batsman fielding close to the bat, called the batsman - Australian Craig McDermott a "white coward". To which the batsman, quite gracefully, replied "I love you when you talk dirty"! [Credit Bob Simpson]