Turn down the sound, urges England coach Trevor Bayliss as Ashes sledging heats up
Tensions have simmered between the feisty rivals with umpire Aleem Dar at one stage stepping between England paceman Anderson and Australia skipper Smith
Tensions have simmered between the feisty rivals with umpire Aleem Dar at one stage stepping between England paceman James Anderson and Australia skipper Steve Smith, who were insulting each other at close quarters.
England’s Stuart Broad was also highly animated in his send-off of batsman Peter Handscomb after he dismissed him leg before wicket during Sunday’s second day of the day-night Adelaide test.
Do you agree with Trevor Bayliss on #Ashes sledging? pic.twitter.com/0cc3NxRDWf— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 3, 2017
Bayliss said he was not comfortable with the level of sledging between the two sides.
“Probably not and that goes for both sides but it’s just the way the game is these days. I’d like to see the microphones turned down,” he told reporters.
“I don’t think anyone necessarily has to listen to what is being said but it’s grown men playing a very competitive sport and sometimes emotions spill over.”
“Certainly not. It’s just red-blooded young males competing against each other,” he said.
“I think most of the time it’s fairly light-hearted. A lot more is made of it in the press.
“After the games and after this series the blokes are together having a beer with no hard feelings. It’s just the way the game is played.”
Smith and Anderson were at each other before the Adelaide test.
Anderson declared Australia were bullies with Smith retorting that the all-time leading England test wicket-taker was one of the biggest sledgers in the game.
“I do feel very strongly about the spirit of cricket and the way the game is played,” he said on Sunday. “I do feel conscious of playing hard but playing very fair.
“But I am also very conscious, and I know our players are conscious of, wanting Australian cricket fans to be proud of them.
“Certainly I’m very proud of our team and the way they go about it and, in recent times, the way they have found where the line is drawn.”