Prior says sledging Aussies crossed line

CRICKET:

Australian players have been accused of crossing the line in their sledging with England this Ashes with the murky on-field battles taking on a personal nature.

Former England player Matt Prior made the inflammatory accusation on a BBC podcast after day three of the Adelaide Oval Test, saying much of the sledging was of a nature that “quite frankly shouldn’t be on the cricket pitch”.

Much of the fallout from Australia’s heavy first Test victory at the Gabba revolved around the Jonny Bairstow ‘headbutt’ of debutant Cameron Bancroft and how Steve Smith’s men had used the incident as verbal fodder to unsettled the England wicket-keeper.

Combative Australian vice-captain David Warner was caught on stump mic referencing the incident, while Bairstow and Australia’s Peter Handscomb were seen having words during the England innings.

Ultimately, Bairstow fell to a soft dismissal shortly before tea on day four which proved the death knell for England’s innings.

“A lot that’s gone on that I think the England players are quite upset about,” Prior said.

“There’s been a lot of chat on the pitch that hasn’t got anything to do with cricket and quite frankly shouldn’t be on a cricket pitch.”

Champion Australian batsman Mike Hussey questioned Prior’s “provocative” comments, and urged him to back them up.

“I’d be very surprised if he’s accurate here,” Hussey told Fox Sports News.

“The umpires are very strict these days on things.”