Courtesy intense competition, sportsperson have to come up with innovative ways to unsettle their opponents and sledging is one such way to do it. Therefore, sledging in sports is a common sight and the game of cricket is no exception either. Done to intimidate the opponents in the battle of nerves, sledging, however, brings the funny side of the sport to the fore.
Though crass oftentimes, the incidences of sledging tickle the funny bone and make the moment etched into the memories of avid cricket fans for a long time. Here are few incidences involving sledging that would make you laugh your heart out; so go on reading ….
Sachin Tendulkar and Abdul Qadir
Image Source : DnaIndia.Com
It was Sachin’s debut series, when the little master in the making was pitted against the mighty Pakistani bowling attack. Just a few months above 16, Sachin was mocked by the crowd and told to go home and have milk. The little genius Tendulkar was too harsh on the then young leg spinner Mustaq Ahmed. The leg spin legend, Abdul Qadir eventually decided to intervene and dared Sachin to hit him instead, to which the young batsman obliged. Sachin, much to the embarrassment of the legendary bowler, hit four sixes and a boundary in that particular over.
Sir Ian Botham and Sir Vivian Richards
Image Source : Mirror.Co.Uk
In a test match played in England, Sir Ian Botham bowled an impeccable line and length to contain “King” Richards. After beating Richards a couple of times, Botham went to the batsman and said in a firm tone, “It weighs about five ounces, it’s red, shiny, round and you’re supposed to hit it!” Richards was in a mood to oblige the bowler and hence hit the bowl out of his presence. All Botham could do was to watch the ball as it went soaring into the stands. Then, Vivian in his Caribbean accent said, “You know what it looks like, you go find it!”
Rodney Marsh to Ian Botham
Image Source : VirginMedia.Com
One of the most hilarious sledging incidences occurred when the English legend Ian Botham and the Aussie top order batsman Rodney Marsh were at each other in an Ashes match. Rodney Marsh, in a bid to upset the concentration of Botham, just asked, “So how’s your wife and my kids?” to which Ian Botham promptly replied, “The wife’s fine. But the kids are retarded!”
Javed Miandad and Merv Hughes
Image Source : IndiaTvNews.Com
Javed Miandad, notorious for sledging antics, had a dig at Merv Hughes during the 1991 Adelaide Test. The Pakistani cricketer called the Aussie bowler a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Merv got the better of the batsman and dismissed him. While Miandad crossed the bowler on his walk back to the pavilion, the bowler cunningly uttered, “Tickets please”. No prizes for guessing, who had the final laugh.
Sledging is quite common in cricket. Ugly as the strategy is for the gentleman’s game, it often has a hilarious side.