Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has confessed that master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar, and the likes of Brian Lara and Kevin Pietersen should never be sledged on the cricket field. Lee, very candidly admits that the above mentioned players increase the level of their game whenever they are subjected to a verbal tirade in the middle.
Australian pacer Brett Lee feels Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, West Indian Brian Lara and England's Kevin Pietersen are part of a select band of international batsmen who should never be sledged as the strategy generally backfires.
"There are guys you can stir up and get stuck into and there are others you leave alone," Lee said.
"Sachin Tendulkar is a guy you don't want to chat to period, because he will knuckle down, same as Brian Lara.
Kevin Pietersen has controlled aggression and he likes it when someone has a chat to him. He takes it personally and it fires him up and he'll want to score a big hundred," the fast bowler was quoted as saying by the local newspapers here. Lee said he is confident that Pietersen, who is currently struggling for the destructive form that made him a much-feared batsman, will come good in the Ashes.
"He might be a slightly different character to the norm-he might be away from the side and doing his own thing but that happens in everyday life. I'd always back Kevin Pietersen to come out and do well," Lee said. The veteran pacer said for Test cricket to flourish, it is important that batsmen such as Pietersen do well.
"He will do well and I hope he does put on a good show for the Australian spectators. What Test cricket needs is a match-winner and exciting cricket and Kevin Pietersen fits the bill.
The best sledges ever in cricket
MSN India has culled a list of best sledges in cricket over the years. Most of the sledging is sprinkled with cuss words. We have omitted some highly abusive exchanges like the one which happened between Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath and West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan. Former Australian pacer and selector Merv Hughes was also involved in spats which churned loads of abuse.
But Hughes was the king of one-liners. Some of the funniest sledges have come from and at the expense of the portly bowler. So, as a tribute of big Merv's skill, we start the compilation with his words.
Merv Hughes to Graham Gooch after the latter had played and missed a heap of deliveries: I'll get you a piano instead to see if you can play that.
Inzamam to Brett Lee: Stop bowling off-spinners.
Rod Marsh to Ian Botham: So how's your wife and my kids?
Mark Waugh to Ormond: Mate what the hell are you doing out here, surely you're not good enough to play for England!
James Ormond: At least I'm the best cricketer in my family.
Ian Healy trying to coax Ranatunga to leave his crease: Put a mars bar(chocolate bar) on a good length, that should do it!
Greg Thomas: It weighs about 5 ounces, it's red, shiny, round and you're supposed to hit it! Vivian Richards hits it for six and retorts: You know what it looks like, you go find it!
Daryll Cullinan to Shane Warne
As Cullinan was on his way to the centre, Warne told him he had been waiting 2 years for another chance to humiliate him. "Looks like you spent it eating," Cullinan retorted.
Robin Smith to Merv Hughes
During 1989 Lords Test Hughes said to Smith after he played and missed: "You can't bat". Smith to Hughes after he smacked him to the boundary: "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't bat and you can't bowl."
Merv Hughes to Javed Miandad
During 1991 Adelaide Test, Javed called Merv a fat bus conductor. A few balls latter Merv dismissed Javed: "Tickets please", Merv called out as he ran past the departing batsman.
Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar decided not to open the batting, and instead come at number four in the batting order in a Test match against West Indies. Unfortunately, India lost two quick wickets for nothing on the board and Gavaskar walked in. Vivian Richards on seeing Gavaskar, welcomed him by saying, "maan, it don't matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero."
Source: India Syndicate and The Indian Express
No comments:
Post a Comment