Shut it! Ex-skipper Mark Taylor says Australia may ban sledging after recent fair play scandal
The cheating crisis in the third test followed an ill-tempered start to the series
Former captain Mark Taylor said on Sunday that Cricket Australia were considering a ban on sledging, or verbal taunting, after the ball-tampering scandal and fractious current test series with South Africa.
“Abusing, sledging ... bullying, verbalising whatever you want to call it is another thing. It’s gone too far.”
The practice of sledging – taunting opponents verbally on the field with the aim of distracting them – has been in the spotlight after Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock were involved in a physical confrontation during the first test.
Warner had said the confrontation was triggered by a jibe about his wife, reportedly in retaliation after De Kock was sledged by the Australian.
“That may or may not happen in a board meeting in three weeks’ time that’s not to be aired on national television,” he said.
His comments came in the wake of outgoing Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s vow to “take a leaf” out of the playing style and conduct of teams such as New Zealand, who imposed a no-sledging policy in 2013 after their own crisis of confidence.
The recent Ashes series was likewise marred by sledging, with tensions between Smith and England bowler James Anderson leading umpire Aleem Dar to have to separate the pair when the Australian was batting.
Anderson described the Aussies as bullies who overstepped the line ahead of the Adelaide test, with Smith retorting that the Englishman was one of the biggest sledgers in the game.